Use of the TetON System to Study Molecular Mechanisms of Zebrafish Regeneration

J Vis Exp. 2015 Jun 25:(100):e52756. doi: 10.3791/52756.

Abstract

The zebrafish has become a very important model organism for studying vertebrate development, physiology, disease, and tissue regeneration. A thorough understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved requires experimental tools that allow for inducible, tissue-specific manipulation of gene expression or signaling pathways. Therefore, we and others have recently adapted the TetON system for use in zebrafish. The TetON system facilitates temporally and spatially-controlled gene expression and we have recently used this tool to probe for tissue-specific functions of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling during zebrafish tail fin regeneration. Here we describe the workflow for using the TetON system to achieve inducible, tissue-specific gene expression in the adult regenerating zebrafish tail fin. This includes the generation of stable transgenic TetActivator and TetResponder lines, transgene induction and techniques for verification of tissue-specific gene expression in the fin regenerate. Thus, this protocol serves as blueprint for setting up a functional TetON system in zebrafish and its subsequent use, in particular for studying fin regeneration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Gene Expression
  • Regeneration / genetics
  • Regeneration / physiology*
  • Tail / physiology
  • Tetracycline / pharmacology*
  • Transcriptional Activation*
  • Zebrafish / genetics
  • Zebrafish / physiology*

Substances

  • Tetracycline