【摘要】 目的研究致聋基因EYA4在斑马鱼胚胎发育不同时期的表达及其定位,为进一步利用斑马鱼模型探索其可能的致病机制奠定基础。方法利用生物信息学分析斑马鱼与人EYA4基因的同源性,同时通过整胚原位杂交和半定量PCR分析斑马鱼eya4基因在早期64细胞胚胎、oblong-sphere、50%-epiboly、15-somite、24hpf、36hpf、48hpf、60hpf、72hpf和1周的时空表达分析。结果生物信息学分析显示斑马鱼eya4与人EYA4基因高度同源。半定量PCR结果显示斑马鱼eya4在胚胎发育早期(64细胞～50%-epiboly)不表达,15-somite期逐渐开始表达并于24～48hpf达到高峰,此后表达水平稍降低并维持在一定水平。全胚原位杂交检测结果显示eya4在斑马鱼64-细胞,oblong-sphere和50%-epiboly时期均未表达,提示该基因为非母源性表达,在15-somite期开始出现可检测的表达,24～48hpf期表达水平达到顶峰,并且在头部神经系统、听囊内耳毛细胞和侧线系统中均有表达,至60hpf～1-week期表达水平减弱并维持稳定在一定水平。结论斑马鱼eya4与人致聋基因EYA4具有高度同源性,通过研究eya4在斑马鱼胚胎早期发育中的时空表达模式,可为后续利用斑马鱼作为动物模型深入研究人类EYA4在胚胎发育中的作用及其突变致聋机制奠定重要的实验基础。更多还原

【Abstract】 Objective To study expression and localization of the deafness-causing gene EYA4 in different developmental stages of the zebrafish embryo and to lay a foundation for further investigation of the possible underlying mechanism of deafness using the zebrafish model. Methods Bioinformatics tools were used to analyze the homology of the zebrafish and human EYA4 gene. Temporal and spatial expression of the eya4 gene in the early stages of development of the zebrafish embryo(64-cell,oblong-sphere,50%-epiboly,15-somite,24 hpf,36 hpf,48 hpf,60 hpf,72 hpf,and1-week)was analyzed using whole-embryo in situ hybridization and semi-quantitative PCR. Results Results of bioinformatics analysis showed that the eya4 gene of zebrafish and the human EYA4 gene are highly homologous. Semi-quantitative PCR results showed that the eya4 gene of zebrafish was not expressed at the early stage of embryonic development(64-cell～50%-epiboly),and gradually began to be expressed at the15-somite stage;its expression was highest at24-48 hpf,after which expression levels slightly reduced and then stabilized. Results of whole-embryo in situ hybridization showed that the eya4 gene was not expressed at the following three stages of zebrafish development:the64-cell stage,oblong-sphere stage,and50%-epiboly stage,which indicated that the eya4 gene shows non-maternal expression. At the15-somite stage,low expression of the eya4 gene was detected. Expression levels of eya4 were highest during24 to48 hpf,and eya4 was expressed in parts of the nervous system in the head,the auditory hair cells of the inner ear,and the lateral line system. Expression levels of eya4 reduced and remained stable at60 hpf to1-week post fertilization. Conclusion The zebrafish eya4 gene and the human EYA4 gene are highly homologous. Studying the temporal and spatial expression patterns of the EYA4 gene during early development of zebrafish embryos will help determine its function in embryonic development and the mechanism of the deafness caused by the mutation of the EYA4 gene using the zebrafish model.更多还原