A Single Enhancer Regulating the Differential Expression of Duplicated Red-Sensitive Opsin Genes in Zebrafish

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1001245
• Publication Date: 2010-12-16T21:05:37Z
• Authors: Taro Tsujimura; Tomohiro Hosoya; Shoji Kawamura
• Keywords: Opsin

A fundamental step in the evolution of visual system is gene duplication opsins and differentiation between duplicates absorption spectra expression pattern retina. However, our understanding mechanism far behind that spectral tuning opsins. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) have two red-sensitive cone opsin genes, LWS-1 LWS-2. These genes are arrayed a tail-to-head manner, this order, both expressed long member double cones (LDCs) Expression longer-wave sensitive occurs later development thus confined to peripheral, especially ventral-nasal region adult retina, whereas LWS-2 earlier central shifted slightly dorsal-temporal region. In study, we employed transgenic reporter assay using fluorescent proteins P1-artificial chromosome (PAC) clones encompassing identified 0.6-kb "LWS-activating region" (LAR) upstream LWS-1, which regulates genes. Under 2.6-kb flanking containing LAR, was recapitulated by reporter. On other hand, when LAR directly conjugated region, LDCs but also across entire outer nuclear layer. Deletion from PAC drastically lowered results suggest enhancing their interaction with promoters competitive developmentally restricted manner. Sharing regulatory duplicated could be general way facilitate