PUBLICATION
The recombination activation gene 1 (Rag1) is expressed in a subset of zebrafish olfactory neurons but is not essential for axon targeting or amino acid detection
- Authors
- Feng, B., Bulchand, S., Yaksi, E., Friedrich, R.W., and Jesuthasan, S.J.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-050718-7
- Date
- 2005
- Source
- BMC Neuroscience 6: 46 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Bulchand, Sarada, Feng, Bo, Friedrich, Rainer, Jesuthasan, Suresh, Yaksi, Emre
- Keywords
- none
- MeSH Terms
-
- Amino Acids/biosynthesis*
- Amino Acids/genetics
- Animals
- Animals, Genetically Modified
- Axons/metabolism*
- Gene Expression Regulation/genetics
- Gene Expression Regulation/physiology*
- Homeodomain Proteins/biosynthesis*
- Homeodomain Proteins/genetics
- Olfactory Nerve/metabolism
- Olfactory Receptor Neurons/metabolism*
- Zebrafish
- Zebrafish Proteins/biosynthesis*
- Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
- PubMed
- 16018818 Full text @ BMC Neurosci.
Citation
Feng, B., Bulchand, S., Yaksi, E., Friedrich, R.W., and Jesuthasan, S.J. (2005) The recombination activation gene 1 (Rag1) is expressed in a subset of zebrafish olfactory neurons but is not essential for axon targeting or amino acid detection. BMC Neuroscience. 6:46.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Rag1 (Recombination activation gene-1) mediates genomic rearrangement and is essential for adaptive immunity in vertebrates. This gene is also expressed in the olfactory epithelium, but its function there is unknown. RESULTS: Using a transgenic zebrafish line and immunofluorescence, we show that Rag1 is expressed and translated in a subset of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs). Neurons expressing GFP under the Rag1 promoter project their axons to the lateral region of the olfactory bulb only, and axons with the highest levels of GFP terminate in a single glomerular structure. A subset of GFP-expressing neurons contain Galphao, a marker for microvillous neurons. None of the GFP-positive neurons express Galphaolf, Galphaq or the olfactory marker protein OMP. Depletion of RAG1, by morpholino-mediated knockdown or mutation, did not affect axon targeting. Calcium imaging indicates that amino acids evoke chemotopically organized glomerular activity patterns in a Rag1 mutant. CONCLUSIONS: Rag1expression is restricted to a subpopulation of zebrafish olfactory neurons projecting to the lateral olfactory bulb. RAG1 catalytic activity is not essential for axon targeting, nor is it likely to be required for regulation of odorant receptor expression or the response of OSNs to amino acids.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping