The role of a lens survival pathway including sox2 and αA-crystallin in the evolution of cavefish eye degeneration.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The teleost Astyanax mexicanus is a single species consisting of eyed surface-dwelling (surface fish) and blind cave-dwelling (cavefish) morphs. Cavefish eyes are lost through apoptosis of the lens, which in turn promotes the degeneration of other optic tissues. The αA-crystallin (αA-crys) gene is strongly downregulated in the cavefish lens and is located in a genomic region (QTL) responsible for eye loss. Therefore, αA-crys has been proposed as a candidate for regulating cavefish eye degeneration. The purpose of this study was to determine the mechanism of αA-crys downregulation and its role in cavefish eye degeneration.

Results

The involvement of αA-crys in eye degeneration was confirmed by knocking down its expression in surface fish, which led to apoptosis of

SUBMITTER: Ma L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4160140 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature