Molecular cloning and expression analysis of a zebrafish novel zinc finger protein gene rnf141

ZNF230 is a novel zinc finger gene cloned by our laboratory. In order to understand the potential functions of this gene in vertebrate development, we cloned the zebrafish orthologue of human ZNF230, named rnf141. The cDNA fragment of rnf141 was obtained by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). T...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Wenqian Deng, Huaqin Sun, Yunqiang Liu, Dachang Tao, Sizhong Zhang, Yongxin Ma
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Genética 2009-01-01
Series:Genetics and Molecular Biology
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Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1415-47572009000300024
Description
Summary:ZNF230 is a novel zinc finger gene cloned by our laboratory. In order to understand the potential functions of this gene in vertebrate development, we cloned the zebrafish orthologue of human ZNF230, named rnf141. The cDNA fragment of rnf141 was obtained by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The open reading frame (ORF) encodes a polypeptide of 222 amino acids which shares 75.65% identity with the human ZNF230. RT-PCR analysis in zebrafish embryo and adult tissues revealed that rnf141 transcripts are maternally derived and that rnf141 mRNA has a broad distribution. Zygotic rnf141 message is strongly localized in the central nervous system, as shown by whole-mount in situ hybridization. Knockdown and over expression of rnf141 can induce abnormal phenotypes, including abnormal development of brain, as well as yolk sac and axis extendsion. Marker gene analysis showed that rnf141 may play a role in normal dorsoventral patterning of zebrafish embryos, suggesting that rnf141 may have a broad function during early development of vertebrates.
ISSN:1415-4757
1678-4685