Title | Genome-wide identification of tissue-specific enhancers in the Ciona tadpole. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2002 |
Authors | Harafuji, N, Keys, DN, Levine, M |
Journal | Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A |
Volume | 99 |
Issue | 10 |
Pagination | 6802-5 |
Date Published | 2002 May 14 |
Keywords | Animals, Enhancer Elements, Genetic, Forkhead Transcription Factors, Nuclear Proteins, Transcription Factors, Urochordata |
Abstract | Less than 100 cis-regulatory DNAs have been characterized in the context of transgenic metazoan embryos. Here we investigate the feasibility of conducting a genome-wide search for tissue-specific enhancers in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. A total of 138 random genomic DNA fragments with an average size of 1.7 kb were separately placed 5' of a lacZ reporter gene. Eleven of the lacZ fusion genes displayed localized patterns of expression in tadpole-stage Ciona embryos. At least five of these transgenes appear to contain bona fide tissue-specific enhancers that direct expression in the cerebral vesicle, neural tube, primordial adhesive organ, notochord, and tail epidermis. One of the enhancers maps near Distalless (Ci-Dll-A) and recapitulates most aspects of the endogenous expression pattern, including localized expression in the anterior-most regions of the neurogenic ectoderm. We discuss the prospects of creating a regulatory atlas of the Ciona genome, whereby every enhancer is identified for every gene. |
Alternate Journal | Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. |