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Evidence for the presence of the tissue-specific transcription factor Pit-1 in lancelet larvae.
- Source :
-
The Journal of comparative neurology [J Comp Neurol] 1998 Oct 26; Vol. 400 (3), pp. 310-6. - Publication Year :
- 1998
-
Abstract
- Recent molecular studies have noted the affinity among cephalochordates and vertebrates. In particular, a cluster of vertebrate-like homeobox genes regulates the development of the lancelet Branchiostoma lanceolatum. A previous study has outlined the expression pattern of the pituitary-specific transcription factor Pit-1 in adult lancelets. Pit-1 belongs to the POU family of transcription factors, which, like homeotic proteins, are members of the helix-turn-helix superfamily of proteins. POU is an acronym for Pit-1, Oct-1 and Oct-2, and Unc-86. In the present work, we investigated the head region of premetamorphic larvae of B. lanceolatum, by means of scanning electron microscopy, wholemount and tissue sections immunocytochemistry, and Western blotting assay, to verify the presence and distribution of Pit-1. Immunoreactive Pit-1 protein was detected in the rostral nerves and in a cluster of photoreceptor cells of the frontal eye. At the same time, an electrophoretic band of 33 kDa was shown from extracts of premetamorphic larvae and recognized by a monoclonal antibody to rat Pit-1. On the basis of the immunocytochemical and electrophoretic results, we can assume that Pit-1 may play a neuromodulatory role in the larval central nervous system. Moreover, the spatial and temporal distribution of Pit-1 protein in larva and adult lancelets agrees only in part with that described in embryonic and adult mice, suggesting different molecular controls of regional identity in the nervous system of cephalochordates and vertebrates.
- Subjects :
- Age Factors
Animals
Blotting, Western
Gills growth & development
Gills innervation
Gills ultrastructure
Larva chemistry
Mice
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Peripheral Nerves chemistry
Peripheral Nerves growth & development
Pituitary Gland growth & development
Pituitary Gland innervation
Pituitary Gland ultrastructure
Rats
Transcription Factor Pit-1
Chordata, Nonvertebrate chemistry
DNA-Binding Proteins analysis
Homeodomain Proteins analysis
Transcription Factors analysis
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0021-9967
- Volume :
- 400
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- The Journal of comparative neurology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 9779937
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1096-9861(19981026)400:3<310::aid-cne2>3.0.co;2-b