The dynamics of native Atoh7 protein expression during mouse retinal histogenesis, revealed with a new antibody

Gene Expr Patterns. 2018 Jan:27:114-121. doi: 10.1016/j.gep.2017.11.006. Epub 2017 Dec 7.

Abstract

The Atoh7 transcription factor catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the specification of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). As a tool to study vertebrate retinal development, we validate an antibody that recognizes human and mouse Atoh7 polypeptide, using informative knockout and transgenic mouse tissues and overexpression experiments. The transient features of Atoh7 protein expression during retinal neurogenesis match the expected pattern at the tissue and cellular level. Further, we compare endogenous Atoh7 to established RGC markers, reporter mouse lines and cell cycle markers, demonstrating the utility of the antibody to investigate molecular mechanisms of retinal histogenesis.

Keywords: Atoh7; Math5; Neurogenesis; Optic nerve; Retina; Retinal ganglion cell; bHLH factor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology*
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / immunology
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Embryo, Mammalian / cytology
  • Embryo, Mammalian / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / immunology
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Neurogenesis*
  • Retina / cytology
  • Retina / metabolism*
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells / cytology
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells / metabolism*
  • Sequence Homology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Atoh7 protein, mouse
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins