RESUMEN
As one of the most important vertebrate model systems, the zebrafish plays increasingly important roles in the field of life sciences. At present, zebrafish is widely used in studies on developmental biology, molecular biology, cell biology, genetics, neurobiology, oncology, immunology, marine biology, pharmacology, toxicology, and environmental protection. The zebrafish-based studies have led to many important discoveries that contribute to the development of modern life sciences. The zebrafish model system was introduced into China in the late 1990s; since then, the Chinese zebrafish community has being expanded fast with more influencing research outcomes, promoting a wide range of disciplines. This review gives an overview of zebrafish-based studies and representative findings in the mainland and Hong Kang of China, aiming to promote wider utilization of zebrafish for high-level studies.
Asunto(s)
Investigación , Pez Cebra/embriología , Pez Cebra/genética , Animales , China , Modelos AnimalesRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To study the expression pattern of Polycomb gene Nspc1 at the early developmental stage in zebrafish. METHODS: In situ hybridization probe for Nspc1 was designed according to the GenBank information. Collecting zebrafish embryos at different stages including one cell stage, two-cell stage, bud stage, and somites stage, we hybridized them with the prepared probe. Then the hybridization signals at different intervals were observed and photographed at the right time. RESULTS: Nspc1 was expressed globally at the early stage. Its expression specificity began at the somites stage, mainly in the nervous system of the head. CONCLUSION: Nspc1 may play essential roles in the early stage development of zebrafish, especially in the nervous system.
Asunto(s)
Regulación del Desarrollo de la Expresión Génica , Proteínas Represoras/genética , Proteínas de Pez Cebra/genética , Pez Cebra/crecimiento & desarrollo , Pez Cebra/genética , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Animales , Humanos , Ratones , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Tejido Nervioso/crecimiento & desarrollo , Tejido Nervioso/metabolismo , Complejo Represivo Polycomb 1 , Proteínas Represoras/química , Proteínas Represoras/metabolismo , Alineación de Secuencia , Pez Cebra/metabolismo , Proteínas de Pez Cebra/química , Proteínas de Pez Cebra/metabolismoRESUMEN
The TGF-beta superfamily members have important roles in controlling patterning and tissue formation in both invertebrates and vertebrates. Two types of signal transducers, receptors and Smads, mediate the signaling to regulate expression of their target genes. Despite of the relatively simple signal transduction pathway, many modulators have been found to contribute to a tight regulation of this pathway in a variety of mechanisms. This article reviews the negative regulation of TGF-beta signaling with focus on its roles in vertebrate development.
Asunto(s)
Transducción de Señal/fisiología , Factor de Crecimiento Transformador beta/fisiología , Vertebrados/crecimiento & desarrollo , Animales , Humanos , Ligandos , Modelos Biológicos , Receptores de Factores de Crecimiento Transformadores beta/genética , Receptores de Factores de Crecimiento Transformadores beta/metabolismo , Factor de Crecimiento Transformador beta/genéticaRESUMEN
In vitro experiment showed that HNF3beta was the direct regulator of sonic hedgehog (shh) promoter. To investigate the activity of zebrafish shh promoter in vivo, we constructed the expression vector pShh-EGFP with ligating a 538 bp zebrafish shh promoter,which contained two HNF3beta binding sites, to EGFP. The pShh-EGFP DNA was microinjected into one-cell stage embryos of the zebrafish and the embryos were observed for GFP expression with fluorescent microscopy. GFP expression started during gastrulation in the axial hypoblast layer. During segmentation, GFP was detected in the notochord but not in the foor plate. Our experiment demonstrated that the 538 bp shh promoter containing two HNF3beta binding sites is able to confer the notochord-expressing activity.