Project description:This project aimed at identifying developmental stage specific transcript profiles for catecholaminergic neurons in embryos and early larvae of zebrafish (Danio rerio). Catecholaminergic neurons were labeled using transgenic zebrafish strains to drive expression of GFP. At stages 24, 36, 72 and 96 hrs post fertilization, embryos were dissociated and GFP expressing cells sorted by FACS. Isolated RNAs were processed using either polyA selection and libray generation or NanoCAGE. This is the first effort to determine stage specific mRNA profiles of catecholaminergic neurons in zebrafish. Catecholaminergic neurons were labeled by four different strategies: (1) 24 hrs old embryos: we used the ETvmat2:GFP transgenic line (Wen et al. 2007). Visualization of monoaminergic neurons and neurotoxicity of MPTP in live transgenic zebrafish. Dev Biol. 2008 Vol 314 p84-92) which at this early stage labels catecholaminergic neurons in posterior tuberculum and locus coeruleus; (2) 24 hrs old embryos: we used Tg(otpb.A:egfp)zc48 transgenic line (Fujimoto et al. Identification of a dopaminergic enhancer indicates complexity in vertebrate dopamine neuron phenotype specification. Dev Biol 2011, Vol 352, p393–404) which at this stage label ventral diencephalic dopaminergic neurons and some preoptic neurons. (3) For 72 and 96 hrs old zebrafish larvae we used a th:GFP BAC transgenic lines that labels catecholaminergic neurons (Tay et al., Comprehensive catecholaminergic projectome analysis reveals single-neuron integration of zebrafish ascending and descending dopaminergic systems. Nat Comms 2011 Vol 2, 171; also: T. Leng and W. Driever, unpublished). (4) for the 36 and 48 hrs old zebrafish larvae we used a th:Gal4VP16 driver and UAS:EGFP responder transgenic line system to label catecholaminergic cells (Fernandes et al., Deep brain photoreceptors control light-seeking behavior in zebrafish larvae. Curr Biol. 2012 Vol 22 DOI 10.1016/j.cub.2012.08.016). We used the different transgenic lines, because lines (3) and (4) do not efficiently label catecholaminergic neurons at early stages, while lines (1) and (2) also have GFP expression in several other non-catecholaminergic populations at later stages of development. Embryos were dissociated and catecholaminergic neurons were FACS sorted from GFP-tagged zebrafish (Manoli and Driever, 2012, Cold Spring Harbor Protoc. DOI 10.1101/pdb.prot069633). RNA was either processed for NanoCAGE, or mRNA was isolated and amplified. cDNA was sequenced by Illumina technique. This data submission is a series of data files consisting of three independent experiments with diffrent RNA-Seq depth: Samples 1-4 (NanoCage): Samples 5-8 (RNA-Seq high read numbers), and SAmples 9-12 (RNA-Seq low read numbers).
Project description:This project aimed at identifying developmental stage specific transcript profiles for catecholaminergic neurons in embryos and early larvae of zebrafish (Danio rerio). Catecholaminergic neurons were labeled using transgenic zebrafish strains to drive expression of GFP. At stages 24, 36, 72 and 96 hrs post fertilization, embryos were dissociated and GFP expressing cells sorted by FACS. Isolated RNAs were processed using either polyA selection and libray generation or NanoCAGE. This is the first effort to determine stage specific mRNA profiles of catecholaminergic neurons in zebrafish.
Project description:Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent and ubiquitously distributed environmental pollutants. Based on their chemical structure, PCBs are classified into non-ortho substituted and ortho-substituted congeners. Non-ortho-substituted PCBs are structurally similar to dioxin or TCDD (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin) and their mode of action and toxic effects are well established. In contrast, much less is known about the effects of ortho-substituted PCBs. Studies conducted so far have focused on tissue-specific effects but there is limited knowledge about the effects on the whole organism, particularly the sensitive developmental stages in vertebrates. Hence, in this study we investigated the effects of exposure to an environmentally relevant ortho-substituted PCB (2,2’,4,4’,5,5’-hexachlorobiphenyl; PCB153) on zebrafish embryos. We exposed zebrafish embryos to either DMSO (0.1%; solvent control) or three different concentrations of PCB153 (0.1, 1 and 10 μM) from 4 hours post-fertilization (hpf) to 120 hpf. At the end of the exposure, larvae were sampled for determining transcriptional changes (RNA sequencing) and the remaining embryos were maintained in contaminant-free environment. At 7 and 14 days post-fertilization (dpf), zebrafish larvae were assessed for locomotory behavior. We did not observe any overt phenotypes during the exposure period, but observed a spinal phenotype in the 10μM PCB153 treated group starting at 7 dpf. This phenotype was observed in a dose-dependent manner and majority of the embryos with this phenotype died by 14 dpf. RNA sequencing of 5 dpf larvae exposed to PCB153 also revealed dose-dependent changes in gene expression patterns. A total of 633, 2227, and 3378 differentially expressed genes were observed in 0.1, 1 and 10 μM PCB153 treated embryos, respectively. Among these, 301 genes were common to all treatment groups, and KEGG pathway analysis revealed enrichment of genes related to circadian rhythm, FOXO signaling and insulin resistance pathways. We are currently investigating the functions of genes that are uniquely altered by different PCB153 concentrations. Overall, these results suggest that developmental exposure to PCB153, a PCB congener highly prevalent in the environment, targets multiple physiological processes including photoperiod regulation and metabolism. [Funded by NIH P01ES021923 and NSF OCE-1314642].
Project description:To identify molecular effects of the antineoplastic agent PKC412 (Midostaurin), we applied gene expression profiling in zebrafish using whole genome microarrays. Zebrafish eleuthero-embryos were exposed for 6 dpf to nominal levels of 2 μg/L and 40 μg/L PKC412. Among the 259 and 511 altered transcripts at both concentrations, respectively, the expressions of genes involved in the circadian rhythm were of interest. Alteration of swimming behaviour was not noted. Pathways of interest affected by PKC412 were angiogenesis, apoptosis, DNA damage response and response to oxidative stress. Angiogenesis was not altered by PKC412 treatment at both concentrations. Apoptosis occurred in olfactory placodes of embryos exposed to 40 μg/L, and DNA damage was induced at both PKC412 concentrations. However, there were no significant effects on reactive oxygen species formation. This study leads to the conclusion that PKC412-induced alterations of gene transcripts are partly paralleled by physiological effects at high, but not at low PKC412 concentrations expected to be of environmental relevance. Gene expression in zebrafish eleuthero-embryos was measured after exposure for 6dpf to 2 ug/L and 40 ug/L PKC412 or to the respective controls. A total of 12 arrays (Agilent 4 × 44 K Zebrafish microarray) were used, including four for the water control group, four for the solvent control group, four for the 2 μg/L and four for the 40 μg/L PKC412 dose group.
Project description:Chronic early life stress increases adult susceptibility to numerous health problems linked to chronic inflammation. One way that this may occur is via glucocorticoid-induced developmental programming. To gain insight into such programming we treated zebrafish embryos with 1 micromolar cortisol and examined the effects on larvae. Treated larvae had elevated whole-body cortisol and glucocorticoid signaling, and up-regulated genes associated with defense response and immune system processes.