Coverdale Louise E, Martyniuk Christopher J, Trudeau Vance L, Martin C Cristofre
Department of Biology, Center for Advanced Research in Environmental Genomics, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1N 6N5.
Brain Res Dev Brain Res. 2004 Nov 25;153(2):281-7. doi: 10.1016/j.devbrainres.2004.08.009.
Epigenetic gene repression occurs as the result of the interactions between DNA and a number of proteins, including methyl-cytosine binding protein 2 (MeCP2). We have isolated a 1680 bps MeCP2 cDNA from zebrafish that shows deduced amino acid identity with Xenopus and mammalian MeCP2alpha protein sequences. The zebrafish MeCP2 gene was mapped to linkage group 8 using the LN54 radiation hybrid cell panel. The genomic organizations of the zebrafish MeCP2 and mammalian MeCP2alpha are highly similar. Relatively high levels of expression of MeCP2 mRNA were found in embryos at 1 to 4 h postfertilization (hpf), after 24 hpf, and in adult brain and eyes. Whole mount in situ hybridization was performed on embryos and revealed ubiquitous MeCP2 expression during early zebrafish development. At 24 and 48 hpf, the highest levels of expression are found in the epiphysis, midbrain, ventricular zone, and the otic vesicles. In adult zebrafish, MeCP2-expressing cells were found throughout the brain. Regions that are enriched in MeCP2 mRNA include the pallium layer of the telencephalon, the preoptic area, the periventricular grey zone, lobus caudalis, and the vagus lobes. In the cerebellum, high expression is found in the Purkinje and Golgi type 2 cells.
表观遗传基因抑制是DNA与多种蛋白质相互作用的结果，其中包括甲基化胞嘧啶结合蛋白2（MeCP2）。我们从斑马鱼中分离出一个1680碱基对的MeCP2 cDNA，它与非洲爪蟾和哺乳动物的MeCP2α蛋白序列具有推导的氨基酸同一性。利用LN54辐射杂种细胞板将斑马鱼MeCP2基因定位到连锁群8。斑马鱼MeCP2和哺乳动物MeCP2α的基因组结构高度相似。在受精后1至4小时（hpf）的胚胎、24 hpf后以及成年脑和眼中发现了相对较高水平的MeCP2 mRNA表达。对胚胎进行了整体原位杂交，结果显示在斑马鱼早期发育过程中MeCP2表达普遍存在。在24和48 hpf时，在松果体、中脑、脑室区和耳囊中发现了最高水平的表达。在成年斑马鱼中，在整个大脑中都发现了表达MeCP2的细胞。富含MeCP2 mRNA的区域包括端脑的皮层、视前区、脑室周围灰质区、尾叶和迷走叶。在小脑中，浦肯野细胞和高尔基2型细胞中发现了高表达。
