Figure 7

Model for Rbm24a in zebrafish eye development. (A) Functional Rbm24a is found in the developing lens of zebrafish. There, the protein acts to bind to and stabilize sox2 mRNA. This interaction leads to the development of a normal sized lens and, with reciprocal induction signaling between the lens and retina, the retina also develops normally to size-match the lens. (B) With either knockdown or mutation of rbm24a, there is lessened Rbm24a protein in the lens which in turn cannot stabilize as many sox2 mRNA molecules (represented as transparent shapes). The lack of the correct amount of sox2, a proliferative factor, causes the lens to develop smaller than normal. However, reciprocal induction has not been affected, which leads to the lens and retina developing small in tandem.