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Functional analysis of limb enhancers in the developing fin
Betty M Booker1, Karl K Murphy, Nadav Ahituv
1Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Development Genes and Evolution
|September 27, 2013
Summary
Human limb enhancers show limited activity in zebrafish pectoral fins, suggesting limitations in cross-species enhancer assays. Evolutionary conservation and spatial expression do not predict fin enhancer activity.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Developmental biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Tetrapod limbs and pectoral fins diverged evolutionarily but share gene expression patterns.
- Shared regulatory elements may control these similar gene expressions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the ability of enhancers to maintain tissue specificity across divergent structures (tetrapod limbs and fish pectoral fins).
- To assess the activity of human limb enhancers in zebrafish pectoral fins.
Main Methods:
- Tested 22 human DNA sequences, previously identified as mouse limb enhancers, for activity in zebrafish (Danio rerio).
- Utilized a zebrafish enhancer assay to detect enhancer activity in pectoral fins.
Main Results:
- 45% (10/22) of the tested human sequences showed enhancer activity in zebrafish pectoral fins.
- Neither spatial expression patterns in limbs nor evolutionary conservation accurately predicted pectoral fin enhancer activity.
Conclusions:
- Zebrafish enhancer assays may have limitations in detecting the function of human limb enhancers.
- Factors like limb spatial expression and evolutionary conservation do not improve the detection of human limb enhancers in zebrafish pectoral fins.
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