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Photoreceptor synaptic terminals are responsible for transmitting visual information to downstream neurons. In vertebrate retinas, photoreceptor synaptic terminals are of different sizes and structures. The molecular mechanisms that underlie photoreceptor synaptic development are not clearly understood. Here, we have systematically examined the size variations in the synaptic terminals of cone and rod photoreceptors in the adult zebrafish retina. We reveal that the average cone pedicle sizes expand in the order of UV, blue, green, and red cones, echoing the increasing maximally sensitive wavelengths of the opsins expressed in the corresponding cone types. In addition, rod spherules are smaller than all cone pedicles. The terminals of each photoreceptor type also display distinct regional variations across the retina and between males and females. These findings establish the basis for using the zebrafish retina to study the molecular mechanisms that regulate the sizes and structures of photoreceptor terminals for proper visual functions.

Normal neural circuits and functions depend on proper neuronal differentiation, migration, synaptic plasticity, and maintenance. Abnormalities in these processes underlie various neurodevelopmental, neuropsychiatric, and neurodegenerative disorders. Neural development and maintenance are regulated by many proteins. Among them are Par3, Par6 (partitioning defective 3 and 6), and aPKC (atypical protein kinase C) families of evolutionarily conserved polarity proteins. These proteins perform versatile functions by forming tripartite or other combinations of protein complexes, which hereafter are collectively referred to as “Par complexes.” In this review, we summarize the major findings on their biophysical and biochemical properties in cell polarization and signaling pathways. We next summarize their expression and localization in the nervous system as well as their versatile functions in various aspects of neurodevelopment, including neuroepithelial polarity, neurogenesis, neuronal migration, neurite differentiation, synaptic plasticity, and memory. These versatile functions rely on the fundamental roles of Par complexes in cell polarity in distinct cellular contexts. We also discuss how cell polarization may correlate with subcellular polarization in neurons. Finally, we review the involvement of Par complexes in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, such as schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. While emerging evidence indicates that Par complexes are essential for proper neural development and maintenance, many questions on their in vivo functions have yet to be answered. Thus, Par3, Par6, and aPKC continue to be important research topics to advance neuroscience.

Distinct tissue architectures arise when cells are organized in specific orientations relative to neighboring cells. These orientational intercellular relationships are established and maintained by cell adhesions. We propose the concept of 'orientational cell adhesions' (OCAs) to couple cell orientations with cell adhesions, thus offering a new perspective to study tissue morphogenesis.

The crumbs (crb) apical polarity genes are essential for the development and functions of epithelia. Adult zebrafish retinal neuroepithelium expresses three crb genes (crb1, crb2a, and crb2b); however, it is unknown whether and how Crb1 differs from other Crb proteins in expression, localization, and functions. Here, we show that, unlike zebrafish Crb2a and Crb2b as well as mammalian Crb1 and Crb2, zebrafish Crb1 does not localize to the subapical regions of photoreceptors and Müller glial cells; rather, it localizes to a small region of cone outer segments: the cell membranes surrounding the axonemes. Moreover, zebrafish Crb1 is not required for retinal morphogenesis and photoreceptor patterning. Interestingly, Crb1 promotes rod survival under strong white light irradiation in a previously unreported non--cell-autonomous fashion; in addition, Crb1 delays UV and blue cones' chromatin condensation caused by UV light irradiation. Finally, Crb1 plays a role in cones' responsiveness to light through an arrestin-translocation-independent mechanism. The localization of Crb1 and its functions do not differ between male and female fish. We conclude that zebrafish Crb1 has diverged from other vertebrate Crb proteins, representing a neofunctionalization in Crb biology during evolution. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Apicobasal polarity of epithelia is an important property that underlies the morphogenesis and functions of epithelial tissues. Epithelial apicobasal polarity is controlled by many polarity genes, including the crb genes. In vertebrates, multiple crb genes have been identified, but the differences in their expression patterns and functions are not fully understood. Here, we report a novel subcellular localization of zebrafish Crb1 in retinal cone photoreceptors and evidence for its new functions in photoreceptor maintenance and light responsiveness. This study expands our understanding of the biology of the crb genes in epithelia, including retinal neuroepithelium.

Tissue-specific or cell type-specific transcription of protein-coding genes is controlled by both trans-regulatory elements (TREs) and cis-regulatory elements (CREs). However, it is challenging to identify TREs and CREs, which are unknown for most genes. Here, we describe a protocol for identifying two types of transcription-activating CREs—core promoters and enhancers—of zebrafish photoreceptor type-specific genes. This protocol is composed of three phases: bioinformatic prediction, experimental validation, and characterization of the CREs. To better illustrate the principles and logic of this protocol, we exemplify it with the discovery of the core promoter and enhancer of the mpp5b apical polarity gene (also known as ponli), whose red, green, and blue (RGB) cone-specific transcription requires its enhancer, a member of the rainbow enhancer family. While exemplified with an RGB cone-specific gene, this protocol is general and can be used to identify the core promoters and enhancers of other protein-coding genes.

SUMMARY The symmetric tissue and body plans of animals are paradoxically constructed with asymmetric cells. To understand how the yin-yang duality of symmetry and asymmetry are reconciled, we asked whether apical polarity proteins orchestrate the development of the mirror-symmetric zebrafish neural tube by hierarchically modulating apical cell-cell adhesions. We found that apical polarity proteins localize by a pioneer-intermediate-terminal order. Pioneer proteins establish the mirror symmetry of the neural rod by initiating two distinct types of apical adhesions: the parallel apical adhesions (PAAs) cohere cells of parallel orientation and the novel opposing apical adhesions (OAAs) cohere cells of opposing orientation. Subsequently, the intermediate proteins selectively augment the PAAs when the OAAs dissolve by endocytosis. Finally, terminal proteins are required to inflate the neural tube by generating osmotic pressure. Our findings suggest a general mechanism to construct mirror-symmetric tissues: tissue symmetry can be established by organizing asymmetric cells opposingly via adhesions., Graphical abstract

The growing interest in collision avoidance automotive radar systems in Ka-band necessitates the development of dedicated antenna systems with a 45 $^\circ$ inclined linear polarization (LP). In this letter, a 45 $^\circ$ inclined LP slot array antenna with the substrate integrated coaxial line (SICL) technique is presented. The proposed antenna is composed of an amplitude-tapering corporate-feed structure and a 5 $\times$ 6 inclined-slot array that radiates the 45 $^\circ$ linear polarization. In addition, a blind via bridging the inner conductor and the ground of the SICL is adopted beneath each radiating slot for impedance matching. The proposed planar slot array antenna occupies an aperture area of 33.24 mm $ \times$ 41.13 mm. Measured results indicate that the holistic sidelobe levels in $\boldsymbol{xoz}$ plane and $\boldsymbol{yoz}$ plane are $-$ 19.6 and $-$ 18.0 dB, and the corresponding cross-polarization levels are $-$ 29.5 and $-$ 26.8 dB, respectively. A measured peak gain of 17.09 dBi is observed at 34.5 GHz with a $-$ 10 dB impedance bandwidth of 910 MHz. The measured results are in good agreement with the theoretical calculations and have demonstrated the validity of the design methodology for the proposed antenna.

A low profile aperture-coupled patch antenna array with high front-to-back-ratio (FTBR) is designed at Q -band by using substrate integrated coaxial line technique, the intrinsic shielded enclosure of which is capable of constructing an equal-phase and amplitude-tapering feeding network with backlobe suppression. An illustrative example of a 6 $\times$ 6 patch antenna array is designed and fabricated with a 2 $\times$ 2 prior verification module by using multilayer liquid crystal polymer process. Measured results indicate that the array can achieve a gain of 17.6 dBi at 41.5 GHz and the first sidelobe levels is $-$ 24.1 dB in the E -plane and $-$ 20.4 dB in the H -plane. The holistic FTBR is better than 27 dB in both planes.

Tissue-specific or cell type-specific transcription of protein-coding genes is controlled by both trans-regulatory elements (TREs) and cis-regulatory elements (CREs). However, it is challenging to identify TREs and CREs, which are unknown for most genes. Here, we describe a protocol for identifying two types of transcription-activating CREs—core promoters and enhancers—of zebrafish photoreceptor type-specific genes. This protocol is composed of three phases: bioinformatic prediction, experimental validation, and characterization of the CREs. To better illustrate the principles and logic of this protocol, we exemplify it with the discovery of the core promoter and enhancer of the mpp5b apical polarity gene (also known as ponli), whose red, green, and blue (RGB) cone-specific transcription requires its enhancer, a member of the rainbow enhancer family. While exemplified with an RGB cone-specific gene, this protocol is general and can be used to identify the core promoters and enhancers of other protein-coding genes.

Tourism is the industry with the most vitality and development potential. Today, it is the largest industry in the world. It is not only recognized by many developed countries, but also recognized as a priority industry by more and more developing countries and regions. Today, with the development of the knowledge economy, information has become the lifeblood of the tourism industry, and computerization has become an important factor in promoting overall economic development. And global society. This article mainly introduces the resources and management information of tourism service facilities based on the tourism management system GIS. In this article, we will study and discuss the application of GIS in tourism information systems, integrate the concept of autonomous tourism into the system, make the country a research field, and establish, verify and implement corresponding autonomous tourism information systems. The experimental results of this paper show that the construction of this system has improved the management level of map data in tourist destinations. The map data is continuously updated. The source of land is managed within a week, and the passenger flow in Sanhe area has increased by 15%. Sustainable development is a favorable guarantee.

A quad-band microstrip bandpass filter (BPF) based on stub-loaded resonators (SLRs) with improved skirt selectivity is presented. A single metallic via hole in microstrip is utilised to introduce a compact inductive source–load coupling, with which two pairs of SLRs generate eight controllable transmission zeros at each side of all the quadruple passbands. As an example, a quad-band BPF with measured centre frequencies of 1.88, 2.55, 3.55 and 5.15 GHz as well as insertion losses of 1.53, 1.64, 1.79 and 2.55 dB, and respective fractional bandwidths of 4.38, 3.84, 3.44 and 2.9% is designed and fabricated. The measured response shows a good concordance with the simulated one.

In this paper, a quad-band bandpass filter (BPF) with compact size and high skirt selectivity is proposed by using j both stub-loaded resonators (SLRs) and λ/4 resonators. One set of SLRs is utilized not only to generate the lower passbands but also to feed the λ/4 resonators. Three extra transmission zeros (TZs) are created in the stopband by using a zero feed structure. For demonstration, a exemplary filter has been designed and fabricated. Good agreement is observed between the simulated and measured results.

Photoreceptor-specific transcription of individual genes collectively constitutes the transcriptional profile that orchestrates the structural and functional characteristics of each photoreceptor type. It is challenging, however, to study the transcriptional specificity of individual photoreceptor genes because each gene's distinct spatiotemporal transcription patterns are determined by the unique interactions between a specific set of transcription factors and the gene's owncis-regulatory elements (CREs), which remain unknown for most of the genes. For example, it is unknown what CREs underlie the zebrafishmpp5bponli(ponli) andcrumbs2b(crb2b) apical polarity genes' restrictive transcription in the red, green, and blue (RGB) cones in the retina, but not in other retinal cell types. Here we show that the intronic enhancers of both theponliandcrb2bgenes are conserved among teleost species and that they share sequence motifs that are critical for RGB cone-specific transcription. Given their similarities in sequences and functions, we name theponliandcrb2benhancers collectivelyrainbowenhancers.Rainbowenhancers may represent acis-regulatory mechanism to turn on a group of genes that are commonly and restrictively expressed in RGB cones, which largely define the beginning of the color vision pathway.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTDim-light achromatic vision and bright-light color vision are initiated in rod and several types of cone photoreceptors, respectively; these photoreceptors are structurally distinct from each other. In zebrafish, although quite different from rods and UV cones, RGB cones (red, green, and blue cones) are structurally similar and unite into mirror-symmetric pentamers (G-R-B-R-G) by adhesion. This structural commonality and unity suggest that a set of genes is commonly expressed only in RGB cones but not in other cells. Here, we report that therainbowenhancers activate RGB cone-specific transcription of theponliandcrb2bgenes. This study provides a starting point to study how RGB cone-specific transcription defines RGB cones' distinct functions for color vision.

A vast number of apicobasal polarity proteins play essential roles in the polarization and morphogenesis of the neuroepithelia. Crumbs (Crb) type I transmembrane cell-cell adhesion proteins are among these proteins. Five crb genes have been identified in zebrafish. However, their expressional and functional differences during early neural development remain to be fully elucidated. Here, we study the spatial-temporal expression patterns and functions of Crb1, Crb2a, and Crb2b in the central nervous system (CNS) during the neurulation period. We show that: 1, the optic vesicle and undifferentiated retinal neuroepithelium only express Crb2a; 2, Crb1 and Crb2a expressions overlap extensively in the undifferentiated neural tube epithelium; 3, Crb2b expression is the weakest of the three and is restricted to the ventral-most regions of the anterior CNS; and 4, Nok and Crb proteins require each other for their apical localization in neuroepithelium. The commencements of Crb1, Crb2a, and Crb2b expressions follow a spatial-temporal spread from anterior to posterior and from ventral to dorsal and lag behind that of adherens junction components, such as ZO-1 and actin bundles. Genetic and morpholino suppression analyses suggest that in regions where these Crb expressions overlap, they are functionally redundant in maintaining apicobasal polarity of the undifferentiated neuroepithelium.

Transgenic animals are powerful tools to study gene function invivo. Here we characterize several transgenic zebrafish lines that express green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the control of the LCR(RH2)-RH2-1 or LCR(RH2)-RH2-2 green opsin regulatory elements. Using confocal immunomicroscopy, stereo-fluorescence microscopy, and Western blotting, we show that the Tg(LCR(RH2)-RH2-1:GFP)(pt112) and Tg(LCR(RH2)-RH2-2:GFP)(pt115) transgenic zebrafish lines express GFP in the pineal gland and certain types of photoreceptors. In addition, some of these lines also express GFP in the hatching gland, optic tectum, or olfactory bulb. Some of the expression patterns differ significantly from previously published similar transgenic fish lines, making them useful tools for studying the development of the corresponding tissues and organs. In addition, the variations of GFP expression among different lines corroborate the notion that transgenic expression is often subjected to position effect, thus emphasizing the need for careful verification of expression patterns when transgenic animal models are utilized for research.

To simultaneously visualize individual cell nuclei and tissue morphologies of the zebrafish retina under bright field light microscopy, it is necessary to establish a procedure that specifically and sensitively stains the cell nuclei in thin tissue sections. This necessity arises from the high nuclear density of the retina and the highly decondensed chromatin of the cone photoreceptors, which significantly reduces their nuclear signals and makes nuclei difficult to distinguish from possible high cytoplasmic background staining. Here we optimized a procedure that integrates JB4 plastic embedding and Feulgen reaction for visualizing zebrafish retinal cell nuclei under bright field light microscopy. This method produced highly specific nuclear staining with minimal cytoplasmic background, allowing us to distinguish individual retinal nuclei despite their tight packaging. The nuclear staining is also sensitive enough to distinguish the euchromatin from heterochromatin in the zebrafish cone nuclei. In addition, this method could be combined with in situ hybridization to simultaneously visualize the cell nuclei and mRNA expression patterns. With its superb specificity and sensitivity, this method may be extended to quantify cell density and analyze global chromatin organization throughout the retina or other tissues.

Purpose Human Crb1 is implicated in some forms of retinal degeneration, suggesting a role in photoreceptor maintenance. Multiple Crumbs (Crb) polarity genes are expressed in vertebrate retina, although their functional roles are not well understood. To gain further insight into Crb and photoreceptor maintenance, we compared retinal cell densities between wild-type and Tg(RH2-2:Crb2b-sfEX/RH2-2:GFP)pt108b transgenic zebrafish, in which the extracellular domain of Crb2b-short form (Crb2b-sfEX) is expressed in the retina as a secreted protein, which disrupts the planar organization of RGB cones (red, green, and blue) by interfering with Crb2a/2b-based cone-cone adhesion. Methods We used standard morphometric techniques to assess age-related changes in retinal cell densities in adult zebrafish (3 to 27 months old), and to assess effects of the Crb2b-sfEX transgene on retinal structure and photoreceptor densities. Linear cell densities were measured in all retinal layers in radial sections with JB4-Feulgen histology. Planar (surface) densities of cones were determined in retinal flat-mounts. Cell counts from wild-type and pt108b transgenic fish were compared with both a "photoreceptor maintenance index" and statistical analysis of cell counts. Results Age-related changes in retinal cell linear densities and cone photoreceptor planar densities in wild-type adult zebrafish provided a baseline for analysis. Expression of Crb2b-sfEX caused progressive and selective degeneration of RGB cones, but had no effect on ultraviolet-sensitive (UV) cones, and increased numbers of rod photoreceptors. Conclusions These differential responses of RGB cones, UV cones, and rods to sustained exposure to Crb2b-sfEX suggest that Crb-based photoreceptor maintenance mechanisms are highly selective.

During vertebrate neurulation, extensive cell movements transform the flat neural plate into the neural tube. This dynamic morphogenesis requires the tissue to bear a certain amount of plasticity to accommodate shape and position changes of individual cells as well as intercellular cohesiveness to maintain tissue integrity and architecture. For most of the neural plate–neural tube transition, cells are polarized along the apicobasal axis. The establishment and maintenance of this polarity requires many polarity proteins that mediate cell–cell adhesion either directly or indirectly. Intercellular adhesion reduces tissue plasticity and enhances tissue integrity. However, it remains unclear how apicobasal polarity is regulated to meet the opposing needs for tissue plasticity and tissue integrity during neurulation. Here, we show that N-Cad/ZO-1 complex-initiated apicobasal polarity is stabilized by the late-onsetting Lin7c/Nok complex after the extensive morphogenetic cell movements in neurulation. Loss of either N-Cad or Lin7c disrupts neural tube formation. Furthermore, precocious overexpression of Lin7c induces multiaxial mirror symmetry in zebrafish neurulation. Our data suggest that stepwise maturation of apicobasal polarity plays an essential role in vertebrate neurulation.

We recently cloned the zebrafish neuronal enolase-2 gene and showed that a 12kb eno2 promoter element was sufficient to drive transgene expression widely in CNS neurons in vivo from 48 hours post-fertilization through adulthood. The aim of the present study was to establish the expression pattern of the 12kb eno2 promoter element in the zebrafish visual system. Endogenous eno2 mRNA was detected in the developing retina from 2 days post-fertilization (dpf), and by 12dpf was localized to the retinal ganglion cell, inner and outer nuclear layers. Similar to endogenous eno2, GFP expression in the retina of Tg(eno2:egfp)Pt404 larvae was first evident at 2dpf, and by 12dpf intense GFP expression was seen in the retinal ganglion cell and photoreceptor layers, with weaker expression in the inner nuclear layer. We identified cell types expressing the eno2 promoter element by using two complementary strategies: (i) double label immunofluorescence analysis of Tg(eno2:egfp)Pt404 zebrafish, and (ii) generation of double transgenic zebrafish expressing red fluorescent protein under transcriptional control of the 12kb eno2 promoter and GFP under a rod- or cone-specific promoter. The 12kb eno2 promoter was expressed in retinal ganglion cells, amacrine cells, including a subset that co-expressed tyrosine hydroxylase, and rod photoreceptors. These data suggest that abnormalities of vision should be sought in transgenic models of diseases generated using this promoter. Owing to the specific expression of fluorescent reporters in neuronal subpopulations, Tg(eno2:egfp)Pt404 and Tg(eno2:RFP) zebrafish may be useful for studies of retinal lamination, neuronal differentiation and synapse formation in the visual system.

Within the vertebrate eye, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) juxtaposes with the retina, but how the RPE plays a role in retinal morphogenesis remains elusive. It has been shown that the loss of function of the polarity proteins, such as Nagie oko (Nok), disrupts RPE integrity and retinal lamination. However, it is unclear whether or not such defects are caused in a tissue-autonomous manner. Here, by taking advantage of thenokmutation, we have generated a transgenic model to restore the Nok function in the RPE, but not in the retina. With this model, we show that Nok is required for RPE integrity in a tissue-autonomous manner. However, proper retinal epithelial polarity does not require retinal expression of Nok before embryonic photoreceptor genesis; rather, it requires a Nok-mediated intact RPE. Interestingly, sporadic wild-type RPE donor cells are not sufficient to maintain proper retinal polarity. We further show that RPE-mediated retinal epithelial polarity underlies proper patterning of retinal ganglion cells and the cells of the inner nuclear layer. Nevertheless, during embryonic photoreceptor genesis, an intact RPE is not sufficient to maintain retinal epithelial polarity and retinal cellular pattern formation. Our results show that the subcellular architecture and cellular pattern formation of a tissue may be regulated by neighboring tissues through tissue–tissue interactions.

The size of an organ is largely determined by the number of cells it contains, which in turn is regulated by two opposing processes, cell proliferation and cell death, however, it is generally not clear how cell proliferation and cell death are coordinated during development. Here, we characterize the zebrafish dou yanmi234 mutation that results in a dramatic reduction of retinal size and a disruption of retinal differentiation and lamination. The retinal size reduction is caused by increased retinal cell death in a non–cell-autonomous manner during early development. The phenotypic defect in dou yanmi234 arises coincident with the onset of retinal neurogenesis and differentiation. Interestingly, unlike many other small eye mutations, the mutation does not increase the level of cell death in the brain, suggesting that the brain and retina use different mechanisms to maintain cell survival. Identification and further study of the dou yan gene will enhance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating retinal cellular homeostasis, i.e., the balance between cell proliferation and cell death. Developmental Dynamics 236:1295–1306, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

In vertebrates, pigment cells account for a small percentage of the total cell population and they intermingle with other cell types. This makes it difficult to isolate them for analyzes of their functions in the context of development. To alleviate such difficulty, we generated two stable transgenic zebrafish lines (pt101 and pt102) that express green fluorescent protein (GFP) in melanophores under the control of the 1 kb Fugu tyrp1 promoter. In pt101, GFP is expressed in both retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells and the neural crest-derived melanophores (NCDM), whereas in pt102, GFP is predominately expressed in the NCDM. Our results indicate that the Fugu tyrp1 promoter can direct transgene expression in a cell-type-specific manner in zebrafish. In addition, our findings provide evidence supporting differential regulations of melanin-synthesizing genes in RPE cells and the NCDM in zebrafish. Utilizing the varying GFP expression levels in these fish, we have isolated melanophores via flow cytometry and revealed the capability of sorting the NCDM from RPE cells as well. Thus, these transgenic lines are useful tools to study melanophores in zebrafish.

Proper visual function of the vertebrate retina requires the maintenance of the integrity of the retinal outer nuclear layer (ONL), which is often affected in many blinding human retinal diseases.While the structural integrity of the ONL has long been considered to be maintained primarily through the outer limiting membrane (OLM), we have little knowledge on the development and maintenance of the OLM itself. Here, by analyzing the adhering properties of photoreceptors in zebrafish N-cad and nok mutants, we demonstrated for the first time that the nok gene is essential for the establishment and/or maintenance of the OLM. In addition, our results imply the possibility that Nok, Crumbs, and their associated proteins may constitute a type of photoreceptor-photoreceptor junctional complex that has not been described before. Thus, our study provides novel insights into the mechanisms by which the integrity of the ONL is maintained in the vertebrate retina.

Mutagenesis screens in zebrafish have uncovered several hundred mutant alleles affecting the development of the retina and established the zebrafish as one of the leading models of vertebrate eye development. In addition to forward genetic mutagenesis approaches, gene function in the zebrafish embryo is being studied using several reverse genetic techniques. Some of these rely on the overexpression of a gene product, others take advantage of antisense oligonucleotides to block function of selected loci. Here we describe these methods in the context of the developing eye.

A layered organization of cells is a common architectural feature of many neuronal formations. Mutations of the zebrafish gene nagie oko (nok) produce a severe disruption of retinal architecture, indicating a key role for this locus in neuronal patterning. We show that nok encodes a membrane-associated guanylate kinase-family scaffolding protein. Nok localizes to the vicinity of junctional complexes in retinal neuroepithelium and in the photoreceptor cell layer. Mosaic analysis indicates that the nok retinal patterning phenotype is not cell-autonomous. We propose that nok function in patterning of postmitotic neurons is mediated through neuroepithelial cells and is necessary for guiding neurons to their proper destinations in retinal laminae.

The zebrafish has been established as a mainstream research system, largely due to the immense success of genetic screens. Over 2000 mutant alleles affecting zebrafish's early development have been isolated in two large-scale morphological screens and several smaller efforts. So far, over 50 mutant strains display retinal defects and many more have been shown to affect the retinotectal projection. More recently, mutant isolation and characterization have been successfully followed by candidate and positional cloning of underlying genes. To supplement forward genetic mutational analysis, several reverse genetic techniques have also been developed. These recent advances, combined with the genome project, have established the zebrafish as one of the leading models for studies of visual system development.

In this letter, a novel slot array antenna with a substrate-integrated coaxial line (SICL) technique is proposed. The proposed antenna has radiation slots etched homolaterally along the mean line in the top metallic layer of SICL and achieves a compact transverse dimension. A prototype with 5 $\times$ 10 longitudinal slots is designed and fabricated with a multilayer liquid crystal polymer (LCP) process. A maximum gain of 15.0 dBi is measured at 35.25 GHz with sidelobe levels of $-$ 28.2 dB ( E -plane) and $-$ 33.1 dB ( H -plane). The close correspondence between experimental results and designed predictions on radiation patterns has validated the proposed excogitation in the end.

The interaction of the strong Lewis acids, aluminum chloride or niobium pentaflouride, with several different lithium salts produces materials that exhibit substantial ionic conductivity. This result is attributed to significant charge delocalization in the Lewis acid complex with the anion and the formation of complex non-crystalline materials.

Transcription sites are detected by labeling nascent transcripts with BrUTP in permeabilized 3T3 mouse fibroblasts followed by laser scanning confocal microscopy. Inhibition and enzyme digestion studies confirm that the labeled sites are from RNA transcripts and that RNA polymerase I (RP I) and II (RP II) are responsible for nucleolar and extranucleolar transcription, respectively. An average of 2,000 sites are detected per nucleus with over 90% in the extranucleolar compartment where they are arranged in clusters and three-dimensional networklike arrays. The number of transcription sites, their three-dimensional organization and arrangement into functional zones (Wei et al. 1998) is strikingly maintained after extraction for nuclear matrix. Significant levels of total RP II mediated transcription sites (45%) were associated with splicing factor–rich nuclear speckles even though the speckles occupied 90%) had moderate to high levels of associated transcription activity. Transcription sites were found along the periphery as well as inside the speckles themselves. These spatial relations were confirmed in optical sections through individual speckles and after in vivo labeling of nascent transcripts. Our results demonstrate that nuclear speckles and their surrounding regions are major sites of RP II-mediated transcription in the cell nucleus, and support the view that both speckle- and nonspeckle-associated regions of the nucleus contain sites for the coordination of transcription and splicing processes.

Yeast two-hybrid screening has led to the identification of a family of proteins that interact with the repetitive C-terminal repeat domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II (A. Yuryev et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 93:6975–6980, 1996). In addition to serine/arginine-rich SR motifs, the SCAFs (SR-like CTD-associated factors) contain discrete CTD-interacting domains. In this paper, we show that the CTD-interacting domain of SCAF8 specifically binds CTD molecules phosphorylated on serines 2 and 5 of the consensus sequence Tyr1Ser2Pro3Thr4Ser5Pro6Ser7. In addition, we demonstrate that SCAF8 associates with hyperphosphorylated but not with hypophosphorylated RNA polymerase II in vitro and in vivo. This result suggests that SCAF8 is not present in preinitiation complexes but rather associates with elongating RNA polymerase II. Immunolocalization studies show that SCAF8 is present in granular nuclear foci which correspond to sites of active transcription. We also provide evidence that SCAF8 foci are associated with the nuclear matrix. A fraction of these sites overlap with a subset of larger nuclear speckles containing phosphorylated polymerase II. Taken together, our results indicate a possible role for SCAF8 in linking transcription and pre-mRNA processing.

A hyperphosphorylated form of the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II (pol IIo) is associated with the pre-mRNA splicing process. Pol IIo was detected in association with a subset of small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle and Ser-Arg protein splicing factors and also with pre-mRNA splicing complexes assembled in vitro. A subpopulation of pol IIo was localized to nuclear "speckle" domains enriched in splicing factors, indicating that it may also be associated with RNA processing in vivo. Moreover, pol IIo was retained in a similar pattern following in situ extraction of cells and was quantitatively recovered in the nuclear matrix fraction. The results implicate nuclear matrix-associated hyperphosphorylated pol IIo as a possible link in the coordination of transcription and splicing processes.

The synergism between erosion and corrosion of various types of steels in 10 wt.% H2SO4 + 15 wt.% corundum sand (60 mesh) has been studied by means of a newly designed electrochemically instrumented slurry pot apparatus. The electrochemical measurements under static and rotative condition and the relationship between element distribution and erosion-corrosion (E-C) properties of rapidly and slowly solidified cast alloy D7 (Cr30Ni 17Mo2Cu) have been further investigated to illustrate the synergistic mechanism. The results showed that the percentage of the synergism of either carbon steel or stainless steel was very large (32–99%). At a given flow velocity, the total E-C weight loss rate and the weight loss rate due to synergism decreased in the order of X60, AISI321, AIS1316L and F5 (Cr25Ni25Mo4Si2Cul). As flow velocity increased from 2.5 to 10 m s−1, the passive current density of all of stainless steels increased. The breakaway velocity of AISI321 in the test medium is about 7.5 m s−1. Although the hardness of rapidly solidified as-cast D7 and slowly solidified aged D7 was almost the same, their E-C behaviors differed greatly from each other. The rapid solidification could decrease the differences in the amount of Cr, Mo, Ni, Cu, Si distributed between γ phase and σ phase, and the corrosion rate of rapidly solidified as-cast D7 was near zero. As a result, its E-C rate was also low. In contrast, the above mentioned elements are distributed markedly inhomogeneously between γ phase and σ, phase for slowly solidified aged D7 and its corrosion rate and E-C rate were large.

By using the techniques of partial digestion of cell wall and selective extraction, we examined the cytoskeleton of wheat young leaf cells under scanning electron microscope(SEM). A 3-dimensional cytoskeletal system, showing some new features, was observed. The cortical network located beneath the cross wall was an anastomosing organization. The association of nucleus with the cell wall by some skeletal filaments was also found. It is noticeable that there were cytoskeletal filaments, which passed through cell wall and connected together with cytoskeletal arrays of adjacent cells. Thus, it is possible that an integral skeletal network existed within the young leaf tissue of wheat.

Cells change extensively in their locations and property during embryogenesis. These changes are regulated by the interactions between the cells and their environment. Chimeric embryos, which are composed of cells of different genetic background, are great tools to study the cell-cell interactions mediated by genes of interest. The embryonic transparency of zebrafish at early developmental stages permits direct visualization of the morphogenesis of tissues and organs at the cellular level. Here, we demonstrate a protocol to generate chimeric retinas and brains in zebrafish embryos and to perform live imaging of the donor cells. The protocol covers the preparation of transplantation needles, the transplantation of GFP-expressing donor blastomeres to GFP-negative hosts, and the examination of donor cell behavior under live confocal microscopy. With slight modifications, this protocol can also be used to study the embryonic development of other tissues and organs in zebrafish. The advantages of using GFP to label donor cells are also discussed.

The vertebrate retina develops from an undifferentiated sheet of neuroepithelial cells, whose differentiation requires the generation and maintenance of the correct cellular polarity. To examine the role of cell polarity in retinal development, we cloned three zebrafish lin7 genes (lin7a, lin7b, and lin7c), which each encodes a protein candidate that is required for generation/maintenance of neuroepithelial cell junctions. These three zebrafish Lin7 proteins share over 78% amino acid identity and contain both L27 and PDZ domains that are present in all Lin7 homologs. Immunoblots revealed that the Lin7b and Lin7c proteins were first expressed in the developing eye by 24hr postfertilization (hpf), while Lin7a was not detected in the eye until 72 hpf. At 33 hpf, the Lin7 proteins localized at, or slightly apical of, the actin-associated adherens junctions in the retinal neuroepithelium. This subcellular distribution required the expression of the Nok protein. In the absence of Nok, the Lin7 proteins failed to localize to either the ectopic adherens junctions or the cell membrane. At 4 days postfertilization, in situ hybridisation revealed that all three lin7 genes were expressed in both the ganglion cell layer and the bipolar cell region of the inner nuclear layer. The lin7a gene was also expressed in the amacrine and horizontal cell regions of the inner nuclear layer, while lin7c was also expressed in the outer nuclear layer. In the adult retina, where Lin7a is the predominant form expressed, the Lin7 proteins were localized to the outer and inner plexiform layers, the bipolar and horizontal cells of the inner nuclear layer, and the ganglion cells. These results suggest that the three zebrafish Lin7 proteins possess partially redundant, yet essential, roles in retinal development.

The vertebrate retina develops from a sheet of neuroepithelial cells. Because adherens and tight junctions are critical for epithelial and neuronal differentiation in a variety of eukaryotic systems, we examined the role of Par-3, a PDZ scaffold protein that is critical in cellular membrane junction formation. We cloned the zebrafish Par-3 ortholog (pard3), which encodes two Pard3 proteins (150 and 180 kDa) that differ in their carboxyl-terminus. Immunohistochemistry revealed that Pard3 localized to the apical region of the retinal and brain neuroepithelium, partially overlapping the adherens junction-associated actin bundles. After retinal lamination, the Pard3 protein was restricted to the outer limiting membrane and the outer and inner plexiform layers in the retina. Reducing Pard3 expression with antisense morpholinos caused loss of the retinal pigmented epithelia, disruption of retinal lamination, and cell death in the ventral diencephalon, which resulted in cyclopia. Overexpressing Pard3 by injection of wild-type pard3 mRNA resulted in cyclopia and eyeless embryos. Thus, Pard3 plays a critical role in the origination and separation of zebrafish eye fields and retinal lamination.

A new view of the cell nucleus is emerging based on the functional dynamics of nuclear architecture. The striking structural preservation of a variety of genomic processes on the nuclear matrix provides an important approach for correlating nuclear form and function. In situ labeling coupled with three-dimensional microscopy and computer imaging techniques shows that DNA replication and transcription sites are organized into higher-order units, or "zones," in the cell nucleus. The dynamic interplay and "re-zoning" of replication and transcription regions during the cell cycle may form the structural basis for the elaborate global coordination of replicational and transcriptional programs in the mammalian cell. J. Cell. Biochem. Suppls. 30/31:238-242, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

During organogenesis, the retina develops from a single sheet of undifferentiated neuroepithelium into a layered mature tissue composed of Müller, photoreceptor, horizontal, bipolar, amacrine, interplexiform and ganglion cells. This differentiation of various retinal cell types requires the transcription of distinct sets of genes in precise temporal orders. It is unclear how chromatin organization and modifications are specifically regulated at global and regional levels to facilitate the generation of distinct transcriptional profiles required for different retinal cell types. Nor do we know to what extent chromatin structure and organization are altered during retinal aging, or how such alterations lead to unbalanced gene expression profiling and subsequent cell degeneration. In this study, we analyzed the dynamic characteristics of nuclear structures and chromatin organizations of zebrafish retinal cells during development and aging. We show that the degrees of chromatin condensation vary significantly among different retinal cell types, as suggested by varying nuclear volumes and heterochromatin/euchromatin organization. These structural features are altered during the aging process as well. For example, the nuclear volumes of cone photoreceptors increase significantly during aging. The distribution patterns of H3K9me3 and H4K20me3 heterochromatin modifications also vary dramatically among different retinal cell types and at different ages. The gross alterations in nuclear structures and chromatin condensation may suggest extensive changes in gene expression activities. These findings provide insight into how chromatin organization and modifications underlie balanced global transcriptional profiles and consequently, the overall fitness of retinal cells, as well as how such regulations might be altered during the aging process. Our study may have significant social impact because with increasing life expectancy, more and more older people will suffer from age-related macular degeneration and the identification of proper interventions to slow down the retinal aging process would dramatically enhance quality of the life for the elderly. Citation Format: Xiangyun Wei. Chromatin dynamics of the zebrafish retina during development and aging. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Chromatin and Epigenetics in Cancer; Jun 19-22, 2013; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(13 Suppl):Abstract nr A45.

While significant progress has been made in elucidating molecular properties of specific genes and their regulation, our understanding of how the whole genome is coordinated has lagged behind. To understand how the genome functions as a coordinated whole, we must understand how the nucleus is put together and functions as a whole. An important step in that direction occurred with the isolation and characterization of the nuclear matrix. Aside from the plethora of functional properties associated with these isolated nuclear structures, they have enabled the first direct examination and molecular cloning of specific nuclear matrix proteins. The isolated nuclear matrix can be used for providing an in vitro model for understanding nuclear matrix organization in whole cells. Recent development of high-resolution and three-dimensional approaches for visualizing domains of genomic organization and function in situ has provided corroborative evidence for the nuclear matrix as the site of organization for replication, transcription, and post-transcriptional processing. As more is learned about these in situ functional sites, appropriate experiments could be designed to test molecular mechanisms with the in vitro nuclear matrix systems. This is illustrated in this chapter by the studies of nuclear matrix-associated DNA replication which have evolved from biochemical studies of in vitro nuclear matrix systems toward three-dimensional computer image analysis of replication sites for individual genes.

In the vertebrate retina, there are two basic classes of photoreceptors: rods and cones. Cones can be further divided into many subtypes. In zebrafish, there are green, red, blue, and UV cones.1 Photoreceptors are polarized cells, with the synaptic terminus, cell body, outer limiting membrane (OLM), inner segment, connecting cilium, and outer segment aligned in the basal-apical direction. Within the plane of the photoreceptor layer, photoreceptors are organized in specific geometric patterns known as photoreceptor mosaics.2 The molecular mechanisms underlying the formation of vertebrate photoreceptor mosaics are unknown. Genetic studies indicate that the outer limiting membrane (OLM) and the inner segment (IS) are important for maintaining the stability and integrity of photoreceptor layers through lateral cell-cell adhesion.3–5 The OLM and the IS are enriched with many polarity proteins, such as MAGUK-family (membrane-associated guanylate kinase) proteins.3,6 Many of these polarity proteins are expressed in a variety of epithelia, and they either directly or indirectly participate in cell-cell adhesion to maintain tissue polarity and integrity.7,8 It is tempting to speculate that some of these proteins might be expressed in a cell-type-specific manner and may mediate differential lateral adhesion. Such differential intercellular adhesion might underlie photoreceptor mosaics. However, to our knowledge, no studies have thus far revealed any polarity proteins that are expressed in a cell-type specific manner in the photoreceptor layer of the vertebrate retinas. MAGUK family members are scaffold proteins that contain multiple protein-protein interaction domains. These domains recruit other proteins to form functional complexes. Based on the differences in their domain structures, the MAGUK family is divided into four subfamilies.9,10 Among them is the membrane palmitoylated protein (MPP) subfamily. Thus far, seven types of MPP-subfamily proteins have been identified, with erythrocyte p55/MPP1 being its prototype. MPP1 is palmitoylated.11 Palmitoylation is supposed to enhance the association of MPPs to the cell membrane. However, it remains to be confirmed whether palmitoylation occurs in other MPPs. All MPPs contain PDZ, SH3, and GUK protein-protein interaction domains in the N terminus to C terminus direction. Besides these common domains, MPP2–7 contain two L27 domains, and a HOOK domain is also present in MPP1, 2, 5, 6, and 7. Many MPP5s also contain a coiled-coils domain at the N terminus.3 In the retina, MPP1, 3, 4, and 5 have been found to be expressed in the outer plexiform layer, cell body, OLM, and IS.12–14 The nagie oko (nok) gene, which encodes an MPP5 homolog in zebrafish, is required for the integrity of the photoreceptor layers.5 More is yet to be known about the functions of MPPs in the adult retina. Here we report the cloning and expression pattern of a novel homolog of the nok gene. We designate this gene photoreceptor-layer-nok-like (ponli) for its restricted expression in the photoreceptor layer. Ponli expression coincides with photoreceptor genesis. Unlike Nok's ubiquitous expression in all photoreceptors, Ponli is expressed only in red, green, and blue cones and is enriched at their IS junctional regions. This unique expression pattern meets the prerequisite for Ponli's likely function in selective adhesion between these cones.

Solids consisting of mixed alkali metal halides exhibit high ionic conductivity around 65 °C.

A new type of polymer electrolyte which contains rigid polymer rather than the flexible low Tg polymers used in conventional polymer electrolytes is described. The new type of polymer electrolyte e...