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Updated: May 9, 2026

High Resolution Whole Mount In Situ Hybridization within Zebrafish Embryos to Study Gene Expression and Function
Published on: October 19, 2013
[Expression of HOXC4 gene during early development in zebrafish]
Jian-Juan Ma1, Zhi-Xua He, Li-Ping Shu
1Department of Pediatrics, Guiyang Medical University, Guiyang 550004, China.
Objective:
To investigate the mechanism of HOXC4 gene during early development in zebrafish, study it's expression in hematopoiesis system with whole mount in situ hybridization (WISH), then make a foundation work for further study of HOXC4 gene in hematopoiesis development.
Methods:
The total RNA of different phases of zebrafish embryos was extracted, and a fragment of HOXC4 gene was cloned with RT-PCR, then HOXC4 gene fragment and pCS2 was digested with BamH I and Xho I restriction enzyme, after that HOXC4 gene fragment was inserted into pCS2+ vector. After confirming the constructed plasmid, the digoxingenin-labeled anti-sence mRNA probe of HOXC4 gene was synthesized in vitro by using T3 RNA polymerase, the exprression pattern of HOXC4 during zebrafish embryogenesis using anti-sence probe with WISH was conducted.
Results:
HOXC4 gene was cloned by RT-PCR and HOXC4-pCS2+ plasmid was constructed and confirmed, expression of HOXC4 showed that it was expressed highly in nervous system of wild-type (WT) Tuebingen zebrafish.
Conclusion:
The expression pattern of HOXC4 during early development in zebrafish was obtained, and it is very important for further study of HOXC4 gene function in zebrafish.

