Identification of genes expressed preferentially in the developing peripheral margin of the optic cup

Dev Dyn. 2009 Sep;238(9):2327-9. doi: 10.1002/dvdy.21973.

Abstract

Specification of the peripheral optic cup by Wnt signaling is critical for formation of the ciliary body/iris. Identification of marker genes for this region during development provides a starting point for functional analyses. During transcriptional profiling of single cells from the developing eye, two cells were identified that expressed genes not found in most other single cell profiles. In situ hybridizations demonstrated that many of these genes were expressed in the peripheral optic cup in both early mouse and chicken development, and in the ciliary body/iris at subsequent developmental stages. These analyses indicate that the two cells probably originated from the developing ciliary body/iris. Changes in expression of these genes were assayed in embryonic chicken retinas when canonical Wnt signaling was ectopically activated by CA-beta-catenin. Twelve ciliary body/iris genes were identified as upregulated following induction, suggesting they are excellent candidates for downstream effectors of Wnt signaling in the optic cup.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chick Embryo
  • Ciliary Body / embryology
  • Ciliary Body / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / physiology
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Iris / embryology
  • Iris / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Wnt Proteins / genetics
  • beta Catenin / genetics
  • beta Catenin / metabolism

Substances

  • Wnt Proteins
  • beta Catenin