Yang Bin, Peng Gang, Gao Jingxia
Institutes of Brain Science and State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Gene Expr Patterns. 2013 Dec;13(8):311-8. doi: 10.1016/j.gep.2013.06.001. Epub 2013 Jun 25.
UNC5 family proteins are trans-membrane receptors which mediate both repulsion and attraction signals for the axonal growth cones. The UNC5 family proteins may also play critical roles in angiogenesis and carcinogenesis. Here we have determined the temporal and spatial expression patterns of unc5 gene family members (unc5a, unc5b, unc5c, unc5da and unc5db) by RT-PCR and in situ hybridization. RT-PCR results showed that all transcripts except unc5b were expressed maternally. While unc5b and unc5c transcript was detected at all time points between shield stage and 48h post fertilization (hpf), unc5a, unc5da and unc5db showed expression at 24hpf and later time points. In situ hybridization analysis revealed that unc5a, unc5da and unc5db transcripts were expressed in the telencephalon, parts of thalamus and hindbrain between 24 and 48hpf. The expression patterns of unc5a-unc5da and unc5a-unc5db in the telencephalon showed substantial overlap by fluorescent in situ hybridization. Unc5b showed expression in the eye region, epiphysis and thalamus. Unc5c showed expression in the roof plate, the hindbrain and the mouth region. Our results provide a starting point to uncovering roles of unc5 gene family in zebrafish forebrain development and axonal outgrowth or guidance.
UNC5家族蛋白是跨膜受体，可介导轴突生长锥的排斥和吸引信号。UNC5家族蛋白在血管生成和肿瘤发生中也可能发挥关键作用。在这里，我们通过逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）和原位杂交确定了unc5基因家族成员（unc5a、unc5b、unc5c、unc5da和unc5db）的时空表达模式。RT-PCR结果显示，除unc5b外，所有转录本均在母源表达。虽然在盾形期至受精后48小时（hpf）的所有时间点都检测到了unc5b和unc5c转录本，但unc5a、unc5da和unc5db在24hpf及以后的时间点表达。原位杂交分析显示，在24至48hpf之间，unc5a、unc5da和unc5db转录本在端脑、部分丘脑和后脑表达。通过荧光原位杂交，unc5a-unc5da和unc5a-unc5db在端脑中的表达模式显示出大量重叠。Unc5b在眼部区域、松果体和丘脑中表达。Unc5c在顶板、后脑和口腔区域表达。我们的结果为揭示unc5基因家族在斑马鱼前脑发育和轴突生长或导向中的作用提供了一个起点。
