The zebrafish flotte lotte mutant reveals that the local retinal environment promotes the differentiation of proliferating precursors emerging from their stem cell niche

• DOI: 10.1242/dev.047753
• Publication Date: 2010-05-27T02:30:26Z
• Authors: Kara L. Cerveny; Florencia Cavodeassi; Katherine J. Turner; Tanya A. de Jong-...; Joan K. Heath; Stephen W. Wilson
• Keywords: Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins; 0303 health sciences; 03 medical and health sciences; Neurogenesis; Stem Cells; Animals; Apoptosis; Organ Size; Zebrafish Proteins; Retina; Zebrafish; Feedback

It is currently unclear how intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms cooperate to control the progression from self-renewing neurogenic divisions in retinal precursor cells. Here, we use zebrafish flotte lotte (flo) mutant, which carries a mutation elys (ahctf1) gene, study relationship between cell cycle neuronal differentiation by investigating proliferating progenitor cells transition towards stem niche termed ciliary marginal zone (CMZ). In embryos without Elys, CMZ retain capacity proliferate but lose ability enter their final differentiate as neurons. However, mosaic retinae composed of wild-type flo show that despite inherent defects, mutant progress proliferation when vicinity We propose differentiated environment limits precursors emerging manner explains spatial organisation ensures proliferative progenitors are driven differentiation.