Premium
Expression of the Zebrafish Prolactin Receptor‐α Gene: Regulation Via MicroRNA Targeting
Author(s) -
Lyon Raymond Stewart
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.585.9
Subject(s) - zebrafish , biology , dicer , neurogenesis , prolactin receptor , microrna , microbiology and biotechnology , prolactin , genetics , endocrinology , rna interference , gene , rna , hormone
Prolactin is best understood for its roles in reproduction including pregnancy and lactation. Recent studies, however, have shown that prolactin is also necessary for proper embryonic development including brain morphogenesis, eye development, and overall growth. Prolactin has also been shown to stimulate olfactory neurogenesis in mice and forebrain development in rats. Prolactin receptor is enriched in zebrafish olfactory tissue, but the role of prolactin in this tissue has not been elucidated. Members of the microRNA‐200 family have been shown to have an important role in olfactory neurogenesis. These microRNAs have been identified as being responsible for terminal differentiation of olfactory neural precursors in both mouse and zebrafish. The precise transcriptional products targeted by these microRNAs have not been completely elucidated. This study aims to investigate the potential for microRNA regulation of the prolactin receptor, particularly within the olfactory tissue of zebrafish. Using a dicer mutant line of zebrafish, lacking all mature microRNA, PRLR‐α expression will be measured and compared to the expression in wild type zebrafish. RT‐PCR, qRT‐PCR, and western blotting have been utilized thus far. It has been determined that PRLR‐α expression is significantly up‐regulated in the dicer mutant zebrafish, indicating some direct or indirect control of the PRLR‐α gene via microRNA targeting.