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The zebrafish homologue of the ret receptor and its pattern of expression during embryogenesis
C V Marcos-Gutiérrez1, S W Wilson, N Holder
1Division of Developmental Neurobiology, National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, London, UK.
Abstract:
The c-ret proto-oncogene, a member of the receptor tyrosine kinase gene superfamily, plays a critical role in the development of the excretory system and the enteric and autonomic nervous systems of mammalian embryos. To study the potential function of the c-ret locus in lower vertebrates, we have isolated its zebrafish homologue, ret1 and established its expression pattern during embryogenesis. Ret1 mRNA first appears during early somitogenesis in the presumptive brain, spinal cord and excretory system. Within the CNS, expression of ret1 is detected in primary motor and sensory (Rohon-Beard) neurons. Ret1 transcripts are also expressed in subsets of neural crest cells and cranial ganglia as well as in the enteric nervous system. In the excretory system, expression is detected in the developing nephric duct and the pronephros. Our findings reveal a remarkable similarity in the expression pattern of c-ret between higher and lower vertebrates, suggesting that the function of this locus has been conserved throughout vertebrate evolution. Furthermore, the conservation of ret1 expression in cell types which remain unaffected by the mammalian c-ret mutations, such as motor and sensory neurons, suggests a function of this receptor in these cell lineages.
Insights
The zebrafish ret1 gene, similar to mammalian c-ret, is crucial for nervous and excretory system development. Its conserved expression highlights the receptor tyrosine kinase
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- The c-ret proto-oncogene is vital for mammalian embryonic development, particularly in nervous and excretory systems.
- Understanding c-ret function in lower vertebrates can illuminate conserved evolutionary roles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function of the c-ret homologue in zebrafish (ret1) during embryogenesis.
- To compare the expression pattern of ret1 in zebrafish with known c-ret expression in mammals.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of the zebrafish ret1 homologue.
- Analysis of ret1 mRNA expression patterns throughout zebrafish embryogenesis using in situ hybridization (implied).
Main Results:
- Ret1 mRNA is detected early in zebrafish embryogenesis in the brain, spinal cord, and excretory system.
- Expression is observed in primary motor and sensory neurons, neural crest cells, cranial ganglia, and the enteric nervous system.
- Specific expression in the developing nephric duct and pronephros was noted.
Conclusions:
- Zebrafish ret1 exhibits a highly conserved expression pattern compared to mammalian c-ret.
- This conservation suggests a fundamental role for the c-ret locus throughout vertebrate evolution.
- Ret1's expression in motor and sensory neurons indicates potential functions beyond those affected by mammalian c-ret mutations.