Context dependent function of APPb enhancer identified using enhancer trap-containing BACs as transgenes in zebrafish

Leighcraft A. Shakes, Tennison L. Malcolm, Kevin L. Allen, Supriyo De, Ken R. Harewood, Pradeep K. Chatterjee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

An enhancer within intron 1 of the amyloid precursor protein gene (APPb) of zebrafish is identified functionally using a novel approach. Bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) were retrofitted with enhancer traps, and expressed as transgenes in zebrafish. Expression from both transient assays and stable lines were used for analysis. Although the enhancer was active in specific nonneural cells of the notochord when placed with APPb gene promoter proximal elements its function was restricted to, and absolutely required for, specific expression in neurons when juxtaposed with additional far-upstream promoter elements of the gene. We demonstrate that expression of green fluorescent protein fluorescence resembling the tissue distribution of APPb mRNA requires both the intron 1 enhancer and ∼28 kb of DNA upstream of the gene. The results indicate that tissue-specificity of an isolated enhancer may be quite different from that in the context of its own gene. Using this enhancer and upstream sequence, polymorphic variants of APPb can now more closely recapitulate the endogenous pattern and regulation of APPb expression in animal models for Alzheimer's disease. The methodology should help functionally map multiple noncontiguous regulatory elements in BACs with or without gene-coding sequences.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)6237-6248
Number of pages12
JournalNucleic Acids Research
Volume36
Issue number19
DOIs
StatePublished - 2008
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Context dependent function of APPb enhancer identified using enhancer trap-containing BACs as transgenes in zebrafish'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this