In:
Journal of Neurochemistry, Wiley, Vol. 123, No. 1 ( 2012-10), p. 44-59
Abstract:
NeuroD1 encodes a basic helix‐loop‐helix transcription factor involved in the development of neural and endocrine structures, including the retina and pineal gland. To determine the effect of NeuroD1 knockout in these tissues, a Cre/loxP recombination strategy was used to target a NeuroD1 floxed gene and generate NeuroD1 conditional knockout (cKO) mice. Tissue specificity was conferred using Cre recombinase expressed under the control of the promoter of Crx , which is selectively expressed in the pineal gland and retina. At 2 months of age, NeuroD1 cKO retinas have a dramatic reduction in rod‐ and cone‐driven electroretinograms and contain shortened and disorganized outer segments; by 4 months, NeuroD1 cKO retinas are devoid of photoreceptors. In contrast, the NeuroD1 cKO pineal gland appears histologically normal. Microarray analysis of 2‐month‐old NeuroD1 cKO retina and pineal gland identified a subset of genes that were affected 2–100‐fold; in addition, a small group of genes exhibit altered differential night/day expression. Included in the down‐regulated genes are Aipl1 , which is necessary to prevent retinal degeneration, and Ankrd33 , whose protein product is selectively expressed in the outer segments. These findings suggest that NeuroD1 may act through Aipl1 and other genes to maintain photoreceptor homeostasis.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0022-3042
,
1471-4159
DOI:
10.1111/jnc.2012.123.issue-1
DOI:
10.1111/j.1471-4159.2012.07870.x
Language:
English
Publisher:
Wiley
Publication Date:
2012
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2020528-4
SSG:
12
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