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Variegated expression and delayed retinal pigmentation during development in transgenic mice with a deletion in the locus control region of the tyrosinase gene
Author(s) -
Giménez Estela,
Giraldo Patricia,
Jeffery Glen,
Montoliu Lluís
Publication year - 2001
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/gene.1028
Subject(s) - tyrosinase , biology , retinal , retina , transgene , melanin , genetically modified mouse , retinal pigment epithelium , choroid , locus (genetics) , microbiology and biotechnology , albinism , genetics , gene , neuroscience , botany , biochemistry , enzyme
Summary: Deletion of the tyrosinase locus control region (LCR) in transgenic mice results in variegated expression in the skin. Here we investigate the pigmentation pattern of other tissues that express tyrosinase: iris, choroid, and retina in the same animals. A mosaic distribution of pigmentation appears in the iris and choroid. Interestingly, a markedly different mosaic pattern is found in the retina, where central areas contain little or no melanin while pigmentation rises to normal levels towards periphery. Further, there is a temporal delay in the initiation and accumulation of pigment in retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) cells during development, and patterns of adult retinal melanisation in these mice appear arrested at a stage found in early embryogenesis in wild‐type mice. These results demonstrate that the tyrosinase LCR is needed for the correct establishment and maintenance of this expression domain throughout development, but particularly during the later stages of retinal melanisation. genesis 30:21–25, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.