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In Vivo labeling of zebrafish motor neurons using an mnx1 enhancer and Gal4/UAS
Author(s) -
Zelenchuk Taras A.,
Brusés Juan L.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
genesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.093
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1526-968X
pISSN - 1526-954X
DOI - 10.1002/dvg.20766
Subject(s) - zebrafish , enhancer , biology , transgene , green fluorescent protein , spinal cord , microbiology and biotechnology , motor neuron , neuroscience , genetically modified mouse , anatomy , gene expression , gene , genetics
The zebrafish spinal cord primary motor neurons are commonly used as an experimental model to study the molecular mechanisms that regulate axonal pathfinding and neuromuscular junction formation, and for the modeling of human neurodegenerative disorders. This study characterized a 125‐bp mnx1 enhancer to direct gene expression in spinal cord motor neurons. A promoter containing three copies of the 125‐bp mnx1 enhancer was generated in a Tol2 vector and used to drive enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) expression either directly or in combination with the Gal4/UAS transcriptional activation system. Both methods induced protein expression for up to 5 days after fertilization, allowing the observation of the dendritic tree and axonal arborization of single motor neurons within a somitic segment in fixed and live animals. The use of the 125‐bp mnx1 promoter for transient transgenic expression or for the generation of stable transgenic fish lines will facilitate the study of motor neuron development and neurodegenerative processes. genesis 49:543–554, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.