Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2025
High Resolution Whole Mount In Situ Hybridization within Zebrafish Embryos to Study Gene Expression and Function
Published on: October 19, 2013
Embryonic expression patterns of TBL1 family in zebrafish
Yuanqi Jia1, Qiu Jiang2, Shuna Sun1
1Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai, 201102, PR China.
Abstract:
Except the addition of TBL1Y in human, transducing beta like 1 (TBL1) family mainly consists of two members TBL1X and TBL1XR1, taking part in multiple intracellular signaling pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin and NF-κB in cancer progression. However, the gene expression patterns of this family during embryonic development remain largely unknown. Here we took advantage of zebrafish model to characterize the spatial and temporal expression patterns of TBL1 family genes including tbl1x, tbl1xr1a and tbl1xr1b. The in situ hybridization studies of gene expression showed robust expressions of tbl1x and tbl1xr1b as maternal transcripts except tbl1xr1a. As the embryo develops, zygotic expressions of all TBL1 family members occur and have a redundant and broad pattern including in brain, neural retina, pharyngeal arches, otic vesicles, and pectoral fins. Ubiquitous expression of all family members were ranked from the strongest to the weakest: tbl1xr1a, tbl1x, and tbl1xr1b. In addition, one tbl1xr1a transcript tbl1xr1a202 showed unique and rich expression in the developing heart and lateral line neuromasts. Overall, all members of zebrafish TBL1 family shared numerous similarities and exhibited certain distinctions in the expression patterns, indicating that they might have redundant and exclusive functions to be further explored.
Insights
The study investigated the gene expression of the transducing beta like 1 (TBL1) family in zebrafish embryos. All TBL1 family members showed broad expression patterns, suggesting overlapping and distinct roles in development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Genetics
- Zebrafish Model Organisms
Background:
- The transducing beta like 1 (TBL1) family, comprising TBL1X and TBL1XR1, is implicated in cancer progression via Wnt/β-catenin and NF-κB signaling.
- Gene expression patterns of the TBL1 family during embryonic development are largely uncharacterized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the spatial and temporal gene expression patterns of the TBL1 family (tbl1x, tbl1xr1a, tbl1xr1b) during zebrafish embryonic development.
Main Methods:
- Utilized zebrafish as a model organism.
- Employed in situ hybridization techniques to study gene expression patterns.
Main Results:
- tbl1x and tbl1xr1b exhibited robust maternal transcript expression, while tbl1xr1a did not.
- Zygotic expression of all TBL1 family members was observed broadly in developing tissues including brain, neural retina, pharyngeal arches, otic vesicles, and pectoral fins.
- tbl1xr1a displayed the strongest ubiquitous expression, followed by tbl1x and tbl1xr1b. A specific tbl1xr1a transcript (tbl1xr1a202) showed enriched expression in the heart and lateral line neuromasts.
Conclusions:
- Zebrafish TBL1 family members share expression similarities but also exhibit distinctions.
- These expression patterns suggest potential redundant and exclusive functions for TBL1 family members during embryonic development that warrant further investigation.
