Insulinoma-associated 1a (Insm1a) is required for photoreceptor differentiation in the zebrafish retina.

ABSTRACT: The zinc-finger transcription factor insulinoma-associated 1 (Insm1, previously IA-1) is expressed in the developing nervous and neuroendocrine systems, and is required for cell type specific differentiation. Expression of Insm1 is largely absent in the adult, although it is present in neurogenic regions of the adult brain and zebrafish retina. While expression of Insm1 has also been observed in the embryonic retina of numerous vertebrate species, its function during retinal development has remained unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that in the developing zebrafish retina, insm1a is required for photoreceptor differentiation. Insm1a-deficient embryos were microphthalmic and displayed defects in rod and cone photoreceptor differentiation. Rod photoreceptor cells were more sensitive to loss o

SUBMITTER: Forbes-Osborne MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3703496 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature