Chicken beta B1 crystallin: gene sequence and evidence for functional conservation of promoter activity between chicken and mouse

Construction and Identification of a Novel Mice Model of Microphthalmia

Purpose

Microphthalmia is a rare developmental eye disease that affects 1 in 7000 births. Currently, there is no cure for this condition. This study aimed to construct a stable mouse model of microphthalmia, thus providing a new tool for the study of the etiology of microphthalmia.

Methods

The Hedgehog signaling pathway plays a crucial role in eye development. One of the key mechanisms of the Sonic Hedgehog signaling is the strong transcriptional activation ability of GLI3, a major mediator of this pathway. This study used CRISPR/Cas9 system to construct a novel TgGli3Ki/Ki lens-specific over-expression mouse line. To identify the ocular characteristics of this line, quantitative PCR, Western blot, hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunofluorescent staining, and RNA-seq were performed on the ocular tissues of this line and normal mice.

Results

The TgGli3Ki/Ki lens-specific over-expression mouse model exhibits the ocular phenotype of microphthalmia. In the TgGli3Ki/Ki mouse, Gli3 is over-expressed in the lens, and the size of the eyeball and lens is significantly smaller than the normal one. RNA-seq analysis using the lens and the retina samples from TgGli3Ki/Ki and normal mice indicates that the phototransduction pathway is ectopically activated in the lens. Immunofluorescent staining of the lens samples confirmed this activation.

Conclusions

The TgGli3Ki/Ki mouse model consistently manifests the stereotypical microphthalmia phenotype across generations, making it an excellent tool for studying this severe eye disease.

Translational Relevance

This study developed a novel animal model to facilitate clinical research on microphthalmia.

Transgenesis and web resources in quail

Due to its amenability to manipulations, to live observation and its striking similarities to mammals, the chicken embryo has been one of the major animal models in biomedical research. Although it is technically possible to genome-edit the chicken, its long generation time (6 months to sexual maturity) makes it an impractical lab model and has prevented it widespread use in research. The Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) is an attractive alternative, very similar to the chicken, but with the decisive asset of a much shorter generation time (1.5 months). In recent years, transgenic quail lines have been described. Most of them were generated using replication-deficient lentiviruses, a technique that presents diverse limitations. Here, we introduce a novel technology to perform transgenesis in quail, based on the in vivo transfection of plasmids in circulating Primordial Germ Cells (PGCs). This technique is simple, efficient and allows using the infinite variety of genome engineering approaches developed in other models. Furthermore, we present a website centralizing quail genomic and technological information to facilitate the design of genome-editing strategies, showcase the past and future transgenic quail lines and foster collaborative work within the avian community.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition of the retinal pigment epithelium causes choriocapillaris atrophy

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is commonly observed at sites of choroidal neovascularization in patients suffering from age-related macular degeneration. To learn in an experimental model how RPE EMT affects the biology of the choroidal vasculature, we studied transgenic mice (βB1-TGF-β1) with ocular overexpression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). RPE EMT was detectable at postnatal day (P)1 and included marked structural and functional alterations such as loss of the outer blood-retina barrier and reduced mRNA expression of the RPE-characteristic molecules Rlbp1, Rpe65, Rbp1 and Vegfa. Moreover, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was not detectable by immunohistochemistry at the RPE/choroid interface, while RPE cells stained intensely for α-smooth muscle actin. The choriocapillaris, the characteristic choroidal capillary network adjacent to the RPE, developed normally and was not obviously changed in embryonic transgenic eyes but was absent at P1 indicating its atrophy. At around the same time, photoreceptors stopped to differentiate and photoreceptor apoptosis was abundant in the second week of life. Structural changes were also seen in the retinal vasculature of transgenic animals, which did not form intraretinal vessels, and the hyaloid vasculature, which did not regress. In addition, the amounts of retinal HIF-1α and its mRNA were markedly reduced. We conclude that high amounts of active TGF-β1 in the mouse eye cause transdifferentiation of the RPE to a mesenchymal phenotype. The loss of epithelial differentiation leads to the diminished synthesis of RPE-characteristic molecules including that of VEGF. Lack of RPE-derived VEGF causes atrophy of the choriocapillaris, a scenario that disrupts photoreceptor differentiation and finally results in photoreceptor apoptosis. Lack of retinal vessel formation and of hyaloid vessel regression might be caused by the decrease in the metabolic requirements of the neuroretina leading to low amounts of retinal HIF-1α. In summary, our data indicate that failure of RPE differentiation may well precede and cause atrophy of the choriocapillaris. In contrast, RPE EMT is not sufficient to cause choroidal neovascularization.

Chicken GRIFIN: A homodimeric member of the galectin network with canonical properties and a unique expression profile

Occurrence of the adhesion/growth-regulatory galectins as family sets the challenge to achieve a complete network analysis. Along this route taken for a well-suited model organism (chicken), we fill the remaining gap to characterize its seventh member known from rat as galectin-related inter-fiber protein (GRIFIN) in the lens. Its single-copy gene is common to vertebrates, with one or more deviations from the so-called signature sequence for ligand (lactose) contact. The chicken protein is a homodimeric agglutinin with capacity to bind β-galactosides, especially the histo-blood group B tetrasaccharide, shown by solid-phase/cell assays and a glycan microarray. Mass spectrometric identification of two lactose-binding peptides after tryptic on-bead fragmentation suggests an interaction at the canonical region despite a sequence change from Arg to Val at the site, which impairs reactivity of human galectin-1. RT-PCR and Western blot analyses of specimen from adult chicken organs reveal restriction of expression to the lens, here immunohistochemically throughout its main body. This report sets the stage for detailed structure-activity studies to define factors relevant for affinity beyond the signature sequence and to perform the first complete network analysis of the galectin family in developing and adult organs of a vertebrate.

The Zeb proteins δEF1 and Sip1 may have distinct functions in lens cells following cataract surgery

PURPOSE

Posterior capsular opacification (PCO), the most prevalent side effect of cataract surgery, occurs when residual lens epithelial cells (LECs) undergo fiber cell differentiation or epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Here, we used a murine cataract surgery model to investigate the role of the Zeb proteins, Smad interacting protein 1 (Sip1) and δ-crystallin enhancer-binding factor 1 (δEF1), during PCO.

METHODS

Extracapsular extraction of lens fiber cells was performed on wild-type and Sip1 knockout mice. Protein expression patterns were assessed at multiple time points after surgery using confocal immunofluorescence. βB1-Crystallin mRNA levels were measured using quantitative RT-PCR. We used Transfac searches to identify δEF1 binding sites in the βB1-crystallin promoter and transfection analysis to test the ability of δEF1 to regulate βB1-crystallin expression.

RESULTS

δEF1, which, in other systems, can activate fibrotic genes (e.g., α-smooth muscle actin) and repress epithelial genes, upregulates by 48 hours after fiber cell removal. In culture, δEF1 repressed βB1-crystallin promoter activity, suggesting that it may also turn off lens gene expression following surgery, contributing to "fibrotic PCO" development. Sip1 also upregulates in LECs by 48 hours, but analysis of Sip1 knockout lenses demonstrated that Sip1 does not play a major role in EMT or fiber cell differentiation after surgery. However, Sip1 knockout LECs do express the ectodermal marker keratin 8, suggesting that Sip1 may limit the reprogramming of residual LECs to an embryonic state.

CONCLUSIONS

Zeb transcription factors likely play important, but distinct roles in PCO development after cataract surgery.

Overexpression of human γC-crystallin 5 bp duplication disrupts lens morphology in transgenic mice

PURPOSE

To delineate the molecular mechanisms underlying autosomal dominant congenital cataracts caused by a 5 bp duplication in human CRYGC.

METHODS

c.119_123dup (CRYGC5bpd) and wild-type human γC-crystallin (CRYGC) were expressed in transgenic mouse lenses by the chicken βB1-crystallin promoter. Lenses were characterized histologically, by real-time PCR, SDS-PAGE, and Western blot. pET and Tet-on expression systems were used to express human CRYGC and CRYGC5bpd proteins in Escherichia coliand HeLa cells, respectively.

RESULTS

Transgenic expression of CRYGC5bpd mutant γC-crystallin results in nuclear cataracts in which lens fiber cells begin to show variable degrees of degeneration and vacuolization by postnatal day 21. By 6 weeks of age all CRYGC5bpd lenses exhibit abnormalities of varying severity, comprising large vacuoles in cortical fiber cells, swelling and disorganization of fiber cells, and defective fiber cell migration and elongation. Levels of CRYGC5bpd mRNA are 3.7- and 14.1-fold higher than endogenous Crygc mRNA in postnatal day 1 and 6-week CRYGC5bpd mice lens, respectively. Crygc, Crygb, Crybb2, and Crybb3 mRNA levels are decreased in CRYGC5bpd mice compared with wild-type and CRYGC mice. Both wild-type and mutant human γC crystallin are uniformly distributed in the cytosol of HeLa cells, but CRYGC5bpd is degraded when expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3).

CONCLUSIONS

Transgenic expression of mutant CRYGC5bpd γ-crystallin at near-physiological levels causes lens opacities and fiber cell defects, confirming the pathogenicity of this mutation. These results further suggest that HCG5pbd γ-crystallin causes cataracts through a direct toxic or developmental effect on lens cells causing damaged microstructure rather than through formation of HMW aggregates with resultant light scattering.

Dual roles for Prox1 in the regulation of the chicken betaB1-crystallin promoter

PURPOSE

Lens fiber cell differentiation is marked by the onset of betaB1-crystallin expression and is controlled by the cooperative action of a set of transcription factors including Prox1, an atypical homeodomain protein. Previously, the authors reported that Prox1 directly interacts with the OL2 element found in the chicken betaB1-crystallin basal promoter to activate the expression of this gene. Here they mapped the location of activating and repressing sequences of the full-length chicken betaB1-crystallin promoter (-432/+30) in lens epithelial cells, annular pad cells, and intact lens and characterized Prox1-binding sites found in this region.

METHODS

Transfection analysis and transgenic mice were used to characterize upstream regions of the chicken betaB1-crystallin gene. DNaseI footprinting and chromatin immunoprecipitation was performed to identify Prox1-binding sites, and transfection analyses were used to characterize these sites functionally.

RESULTS

Sequences between -152 and -432 of the chicken betaB1-crystallin promoter mediated either promoter activation or repression, depending on the stage of lens differentiation tested. Two new Prox1-binding sites were found in this region that bound Prox1 more avidly than the OL2 element. However, neither binding site conferred Prox1-mediated activation on a heterologous promoter; instead, each allowed Prox1 to repress promoter function.

CONCLUSIONS

The function of the upstream region of the chicken betaB1-crystallin promoter changes depending on cellular context. These data suggest that Prox1 function as a transcriptional activator could be regulated at the DNA level based on the characteristics of the responsive elements.

Transgenic overexpression of connexin50 induces cataracts

To examine the effects of increased expression of Cx50 in the mouse lens, transgenic mice were generated using a DNA construct containing the human Cx50 coding region and a C-terminal FLAG epitope driven by the chicken betaB1-crystallin promoter. Expression of this protein in paired Xenopus oocytes induced gap junctional currents of similar magnitude to wild type human Cx50. Three lines of transgenic mice expressing the transgenic protein were analyzed. Lenses from transgenic mice were smaller than those from non-transgenic littermates, and had cataracts that were already visible at postnatal day 1. Expression of the transgene resulted in a 3- to 13-fold increase in Cx50 protein levels above those of non-transgenic animals. Light microscopy revealed alterations in epithelial cell differentiation, fiber cell structure, interactions between fiber cells and areas of liquefaction. Scanning electron microscopy showed fiber cells of varying widths with bulging areas along single fibers. Anti-Cx50 and anti-FLAG immunoreactivities were detected at appositional membranes and in intracellular vesicles in transgenic lenses. N-cadherin, Cx46, ZO-1 and aquaporin 0 localized mainly at the plasma membrane, although some N-cadherin and aquaporin 0 was associated with the intracellular vesicles. The abundance and solubility/integrity of alphaA-, alphaB-, beta- and gamma-crystallin were unaffected. These results demonstrate that transgenic expression of Cx50 in mice leads to cataracts associated with formation of cytoplasmic vesicles containing Cx50 and decreased or slowed epithelial differentiation without major alterations in the distribution of other integral membrane or membrane-associated proteins or the integrity/solubility of crystallins.

Recapitulation of human betaB1-crystallin promoter activity in transgenic zebrafish

Development of the eye is morphologically similar among vertebrates, indicating that the underlying mechanism regulating the process may have been highly conserved during evolution. Herein we analyzed the promoter of the human betaB1-crytallin gene in zebrafish by transgenic experiments. To delineate the evolutionarily conserved regulatory elements, we performed serial deletion assays in the promoter region. The results demonstrated that the -90/+61-bp upstream proximal promoter region is sufficient to confer lens-tissue specificity to the human betaB1-crystallin gene in transgenic zebrafish. Through phylogenetic sequence comparisons and an electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), a highly conserved cis-element of a six-base pair sequence TG(A/C)TGA, the consensus sequence for the Maf protein binding site, within the proximal promoter region was revealed. Further, a site-mutational assay showed that this element is crucial for promoter activity. These data suggest that the fundamental transcriptional regulatory mechanism of the betaB1-crystallin gene has been well conserved between humans and zebrafish, and plausibly among all vertebrates, during evolution.

Transgenic studies on the role of optineurin in the mouse eye

Mutations in the OPTN gene encoding for optineurin have been associated with primary open-angle glaucoma. The functional role(s) of optineurin in the normal and glaucomatous eye are unclear. As optineurin interferes with TNF-alpha mediated cell death in vitro, an involvement of optineurin in the regulatory pathways leading to apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells has been suggested. The goal of the present study was to study the molecular properties of optineurin and its capabilities to prevent apoptosis in vivo in the eyes of transgenic mice. The chicken betaB1-crystallin promoter was used to overexpress ectopic optineurin in the lenses of transgenic mice. The expression of transgenic mRNA was monitored by northern blot analysis. The localization of transgenic optineurin was investigated by one- and two-dimensional western blot analysis and by immunohistochemistry, and compared with that of endogenous optineurin. To assess effects of transgenic optineurin on apoptosis, betaB1-crystallin-OPTN mice were crossbred with betaB1-crystallin-TGFbeta1 mice that undergo substantial TGF-beta1-induced apoptotic cell death in the lens. Two independent betaB1-crystallin-OPTN transgenic lines were established, in which transgenic optineurin was expressed strictly lens-specific as assessed by Northern and Western blotting, and by immunohistochemistry. In contrast, endogenous optineurin was preferentially expressed in the retina, where retinal ganglion cells showed strong labeling. Immunostaining for endogenous optineurin in the anterior eye was considerably weaker than in the posterior eye and was seen in iris, ciliary epithelium, cells of corneal stroma and endothelium, and in the trabecular meshwork. Neither transgenic nor endogenous optineurin was found in the aqueous humor. Transgenic overexpression of optineurin did not have measurable effects on TGFbeta1-induced apoptosis in mixed betaB1-crystallin-OPTN/betaB1-crystallin-TGFbeta1 transgenic mice. Our results show that optineurin is a cytoplasmatic rather than a secretory protein that is preferentially expressed in retinal ganglion cells, and argue against a major role of optineurin for the modulation of apoptosis in vivo.

Ectopic norrin induces growth of ocular capillaries and restores normal retinal angiogenesis in Norrie disease mutant mice

Norrie disease is an X-linked retinal dysplasia that presents with congenital blindness, sensorineural deafness, and mental retardation. Norrin, the protein product of the Norrie disease gene (NDP), is a secreted protein of unknown biochemical function. Norrie disease (Ndp(y/-)) mutant mice that are deficient in norrin develop blindness, show a distinct failure in retinal angiogenesis, and completely lack the deep capillary layers of the retina. We show here that the transgenic expression of ectopic norrin under control of a lens-specific promoter restores the formation of a normal retinal vascular network in Ndp(y/-) mutant mice. The improvement in structure correlates with restoration of neuronal function in the retina. In addition, lenses of transgenic mice with ectopic expression of norrin show significantly more capillaries in the hyaloid vasculature that surrounds the lens during development. In vitro, lenses of transgenic mice in coculture with microvascular endothelial cells induce proliferation of the cells. Transgenic mice with ectopic expression of norrin show more bromodeoxyuridine-labeled retinal progenitor cells at embryonic day 14.5 and thicker retinas at postnatal life than wild-type littermates, indicating a putative direct neurotrophic effect of norrin. These data provide direct evidence that norrin induces growth of ocular capillaries and that pharmacologic modulation of norrin might be used for treatment of the vascular abnormalities associated with Norrie disease or other vascular disorders of the retina.

Requirement for betaB1-crystallin promoter of Xenopus laevis in embryonic lens development and lens regeneration

Regulation of the lens-specific betaB1-crystallin promoter in Xenopus laevis was investigated using transgenic larvae and tadpoles. Comparison of the promoter sequence with that of chicken betaB1-crystallin gene indicates significant sequence similarity over a span of several hundred base pairs starting from the transcriptional start site. Remarkably, PL-1 and PL-2 sequences identified in the chicken promoter as essential binding sites of MAF, Pax6 and Prox1 transcription factors were conserved. Mutations of X (Xenopus) PL-1 and XPL-2 sequences eliminated the promoter activity, indicating a conserved mechanism regulating betaB1-crystallin promoter among vertebrate species. A stepwise deletion of the promoter sequence starting from 2800 bp indicated that the proximal 260 bp directly upstream of the transcription initiation site is sufficient for eliciting lens-specific expression, but the 150 bp promoter sequence is inactive despite it containing the XPL-1 and XPL-2 sequences, suggesting the presence of an additional and essential regulatory sequence located between -150 and -260 bp. Activity of the betaB1-crystallin promoter during lens regeneration from cornea was examined using transgenic tadpoles and found to have the same dependence on promoter regions as in embryonic lens development, indicating that gene regulation is largely shared by the two lens-generating processes.

Transcriptional frequency and cell determination

The relative base composition of DNA regulatory sequences of certain genes of undetermined multipotent progenitor cells may account for the frequency of transcription of these genes in cell determination. The sequences of these regulatory regions of cell determination genes that are more AT-rich would create the potential for transcription at a higher frequency due to their lower melting temperature, as well as propensity to bend. An increase of one or more of the high mobility group (HMG) chromatin proteins would preferentially bind the more AT-rich regulatory sequences, thereby increasing the rate of transcription. The amount of unphosphorylated H1 histone reacting with these same regulatory sites may decrease transcription frequency. The level of cell growth, i.e. total protein synthesis of a cell, is correlated positively with the synthesis of HMG proteins. H1 histone synthesis is linked to DNA replication. Unbalanced growth would alter the amounts of HMG proteins and H1 histone, thus changing transcriptional frequency. The greater the enrichment of AT sequences in the regulatory regions of the cell determination genes, the greater may be the extent of evolutionary conservation. Higher frequency of transcription of the cell determination genes with the more AT-rich regulatory sequences could account for the earlier expression of the more conserved cell determination genes during embryonic development. Preferential binding of H1 histone to the more AT-rich regulatory sequences would subsequently restrict their transcription before that of less conserved cell determination genes.

Mafs, Prox1, and Pax6 can regulate chicken betaB1-crystallin gene expression

During lens fiber cell differentiation, the regulation of crystallin gene expression is coupled with dramatic morphological changes. Here we report that Mafs, Prox1, and Pax6, which are essential transcription factors for normal lens development, bind to three functionally important cis elements, PL1, PL2, and OL2, in the chicken betaB1-crystallin promoter and may cooperatively direct the transcription of this lens fiber cell preferred gene. Gel shift assays demonstrated that Mafs bind to the MARE-like sequences in the PL1 and PL2 elements, whereas Prox1, a sequence-specific DNA-binding protein like its Drosophila homolog Prospero, interacts with the OL2 element. Furthermore, Pax6, a known repressor of the chicken betaB1-crystallin promoter, binds to all three of these cis elements. In transfection assays, Mafs and Prox1 activated the chicken betaB1-crystallin promoter; however, their transactivation ability was repressed when co-transfected with Pax6. Taken together with the known spatiotemporal expression patterns of Mafs, Prox1, and Pax6 in the developing lens, we propose that Pax6 occupies and represses the chicken betaB1-crystallin promoter in lens epithelial cells, and is displaced by Prox1 and Mafs, which activate the promoter, in differentiating cortical fiber cells.

Differential influence of proteolysis by calpain 2 and Lp82 on in vitro precipitation of mouse lens crystallins

The purpose of the present study was to compare the susceptibility of crystallins proteolyzed by ubiquitous calpain 2 and by lens-specific calpain Lp82 to insolubilization. To test this, transgenic (TG) mice expressing a calpain 2, in which the active site cysteine 105 was mutated to alanine, were produced. Expression of mutated calpain 2 was driven in lens by coupling the mutated gene to the betaB1-crystallin promoter. Light scattering was measured in solutions of lens proteins after activation of endogenous calpain 2 and/or Lp82. Mass spectrometric analysis was performed to determine the cleavage sites and the calpain responsible for insolubilization of crystallins. Lens proteins from TG mice incubated in vitro with calcium showed higher light scattering compared to proteins from wild type (WT) mice. alphaA-crystallin from TG mice was proteolyzed by Lp82. In contrast, alphaA-crystallin in lenses from WT mice were proteolyzed by both calpain 2 and Lp82. These results suggested that Lp82-induced proteolysis of crystallins caused increased susceptibility of truncated crystallins to in vitro precipitation. Since Lp82 is highest in young animals, Lp82-induced proteolysis and precipitation may be one of the factors responsible for the cataract formation in young rodents.

Bilateral congenital cataracts result from a gain-of-function mutation in the gene for aquaporin-0 in mice

Cataract Tohoku (Cat(Tohm)) is a dominant cataract mutation that leads to severe degeneration of lens fiber cells. Linkage analysis showed that the Cat(Tohm) mutation is located on mouse chromosome 10, close to the gene for aquaporin-0 (Aqp0), which encodes a membrane protein that is expressed specifically in lens fiber cells. Sequence analysis of Aqp0 revealed a 12-bp deletion without any change in the reading frame, which resulted in a deletion of four amino acids within the second transmembrane region of the AQP0 protein. Targeted expression of the mutated Aqp0 caused lens opacity in transgenic mice, the pathological severity of which depended on the expression level of the transgene. The mutated AQP0 protein was localized to the intracellular and perinuclear spaces rather than to the plasma membranes of the lens fiber cells. The cataract phenotype of Cat(Tohm) is caused by a gain-of-function mutation in the mutated AQP0 protein and not by a loss-of-function mutation.

Disruption of anterior segment development by TGF-β1 overexpression in the eyes of transgenic mice

Previous experiments showed that transgenic mice expressing a secreted self-activating transforming growth factor (TGF) -beta1 did not show a phenotype in the lens and cornea until postnatal day 21, when anterior subcapsular cataracts, sporadic thickening of the corneal stroma, and thinning of the corneal epithelium were noted (Srinivasan et al., 1998). To examine the effects of higher concentrations of TGF-beta1 on the lens and cornea, we constructed transgenic mice harboring the strong, lens-specific chicken betaB1-crystallin promoter driving an activated porcine TGF-beta1 gene. In contrast to the earlier study, the transgenic mice had microphthalmic eyes with closed eyelids. Already at embryonic day (E) 13.5, the future cornea of the transgenic mice was threefold thicker than that of wild-type littermates due to increased proliferation of corneal stromal mesenchyme cells. Staining of fibronectin and thrombospondin-1 was increased in periocular mesenchyme. At E17.5, the thickened transgenic corneal stroma was vascularized and densely populated by abundant star-shaped, neural cell adhesion molecule-positive cells of mesenchymal appearance surrounded by irregular swirls of collagen and extracellular matrix. The corneal endothelium, anterior chamber, and stroma of iris/ciliary body did not develop, and the transgenic cornea was opaque. Fibronectin, perlecan, and thrombospondin-1 were elevated, whereas type VI collagen decreased in the transgenic corneal stroma. Stromal mesenchyme cells expressed alpha-smooth muscle actin as did lens epithelial cells and cells of the retinal pigmented epithelium. By E17.5, lens fiber cells underwent apoptotic cell death that was followed by apoptosis of the entire anterior lens epithelium between E18.5 and birth. Posteriorly, the vitreous humor was essentially absent; however, the retina appeared relatively normal. Thus, excess TGF-beta1, a mitogen for embryonic corneal mesenchyme, severely disrupts corneal and lens differentiation. Our findings profoundly contrast with the mild eye phenotype observed with presumably lower levels of ectopic TGF-beta and illustrate the complexity of TGF-beta utilization and the importance of dose when assessing the effects of this growth factor.

General utility of the chicken betaB1-crystallin promoter to drive protein expression in lens fiber cells of transgenic mice

Transgenic mouse technology has been very valuable for the study of lens fiber cells since they can not be propagated in cell culture. The targeting of transgenes to the lens has traditionally been done with the alphaA-crystallin promoter. However, while lens-specific, transgenic lines made with the alphaA-crystallin promoter express the transgene at levels 100-300-fold lower than endogenous alphaA-crystallin. Here we propose an alternative, the chicken betaB1-crystallin promoter (-432/+30). Transgenic mice made with this promoter have successfully expressed CAT, d/n m-calpain, Weel, and betaB2-crystallin mRNA at levels comparable to the endogenous betaB1-crystallin gene and no eye abnormalities such as cataracts, have resulted. All of the transgenic lines made with the chicken betaB1-crystallin promoter have expressed the transgene in the lens fiber cells, and the best lines express at levels close to endogenous betaB1-crystallin. While RNA expression is very high, only moderate protein expression has been achieved, implying that the high protein expression of the crystallins is partially controlled at the level of translation. Thus, the chicken betaB1-crystallin promoter directs high level RNA expression to lens fiber cells, which may be especially useful for the expression of ribozyme and anti-sense RNAs in addition to ectopic proteins.

The mouse beta B1-crystallin promoter: strict regulation of lens fiber cell specificity

Previous studies have shown that the chicken beta B1-crystallin promoter (-434/+30) contains all of the signals necessary to specifically direct high level expression of heterologous genes to the lens fiber cells of mice. In the present study, the mouse beta B1-crystallin gene was cloned, and its regulation was investigated to further elucidate the mechanisms controlling lens fiber cell-specific gene expression. Phylogenetic footprinting analysis of the 5' flanking sequence from the mouse, rat, human and chicken beta B1-crystallin genes identified several known and putative functional cis elements including the PL2 element which is required for lens-specific expression of the chicken beta B1 promoter. Surprisingly, however, all six mouse beta B1-crystallin/CAT constructs tested (-1493/+44, -1493/+30, -870/+30, -250/+30, -135/+30 and -98/+30) were inactive in three different mammalian lens-derived cell lines while only the -870/+30 and -98/+30 constructs were active in chicken primary patched lens epithelial cells. In contrast, the chicken beta B1-crystallin promoter (-434/+30) was transcriptionally active in all lens-derived cells tested. Transgenic mice harboring a mouse beta B1-crystallin -1493/+44 CAT construct did express the transgene specifically in lens fiber cells, however, at lower levels than that previously reported for a chicken -434/+30 CAT construct. These data suggest that, as in other crystallin genes, the regulatory signals controlling lens fiber cell-specific expression are conserved between chicken and mouse. However, the inability of the mouse beta B1-crystallin promoter to function in mammalian lens-derived cultured cells implies that this gene has acquired additional cis-regulatory elements to ensure lens fiber cell specificity.

Overexpression of PAX6(5a) in lens fiber cells results in cataract and upregulation of (alpha)5(beta)1 integrin expression

The PAX6 gene, a key regulator of eye development, produces two major proteins that differ in paired domain structure: PAX6 and PAX6(5a). It is known that an increase in the PAX6(5a) to PAX6 ratio leads to multiple ocular defects in humans. Here, transgenic mice were created that overexpress human PAX6(5a) in the lens. These mice develop cataracts with abnormalities in fiber cell shape as well as fiber cell/lens capsule and fiber cell/fiber cell interactions. While the structure of the actin cytoskeleton appeared relatively normal, the cataractous lens expresses increased amounts of paxillin and p120(ctn) as well as large aggregates of (alpha)5(beta)1 integrin in the dysgenic fiber cells. The elevated amounts of these proteins in the transgenic lens correlated well with elevated levels of their respective mRNAs. To investigate the role of Pax-6(5a) in the upregulation of these genes, a series of gel shift experiments using truncated proteins and consensus oligonucleotides demonstrated the complexity of Pax-6 and Pax-6(5a) binding to DNA, aiding our identification of potential binding sites in the human (α)5- and (beta)1-integrin promoters. Consequent gel shift analysis demonstrated that these putative regulatory sequences bind Pax-6 and/or Pax-6(5a) in lens nuclear extracts, suggesting that the human (alpha)5 and (beta)1 integrin promoters contain PAX6/PAX6(5a) binding sites and maybe directly regulated by this transcription factor in the transgenic lens. We conclude that these transgenic mice are good models to study a type of human cataract and for identifying batteries of genes that are directly or indirectly regulated by both forms of Pax-6.

Lens-preferred activity of chicken delta 1- and delta 2-crystallin enhancers in transgenic mice and evidence for retinoic acid-responsive regulation of the delta 1-crystallin gene

There are two tandemly linked delta-crystallin genes [5' delta 1 -delta 2 3'] in the chicken, with the delta 1-crystallin gene being expressed much more highly (50-100-fold) in the embryonic lens than the delta 2-crystallin gene. Previous transfection experiments have shown that a lens-preferred enhancer exists in the third intron of each chicken delta-crystallin gene. In the present investigation we have used transgenic mice to establish that both the chicken delta 1- and delta 2-crystallin enhancers are preferentially active in the mouse lens in combination with their homologous promoter and the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene. The promoter/ CAT constructs lacking the enhancers were inactive in the transgenic mice. In one case, a truncated delta 2-crystallin promoter (-308/+24) in combination with the enhancer was also active in the Purkinje cells of the cerebellum of the transgenic mice, which could prove useful in future experiments. Finally, retinoic acid receptors (RAR beta) activated the delta 1-crystallin, but not the delta 2-crystallin enhancer in teh recombinant plasmids in cotransfected embryonic chicken lens epithelial cells treated with retinoic acid. This activation did not occur when using the care enhancer (fragment B4) lacking surrounding flanking sequences (fragment B3 and B5) of the enhancer. Together these experiments show that the chicken delta-crystallin enhancers show lens-preference in transgenic mice despite the absence of delta-crystallin in this species and add retinoic acid nuclear receptors to the growing list of transcription factors (including Pax-6, Sox-2, and delta EF3) that directly or indirectly contribute to the high expression of the delta 1-crystallin gene in the lens.

Dual roles for Pax-6: a transcriptional repressor of lens fiber cell-specific beta-crystallin genes

It has been demonstrated previously that Pax-6, a paired domain (PD)/homeodomain (HD) transcription factor critical for eye development, contributes to the activation of the alphaB-, alphaA-, delta1-, and zeta-crystallin genes in the lens. Here we have examined the possibility that the inverse relationship between the expression of Pax-6 and beta-crystallin genes within the developing chicken lens reflects a negative regulatory role of Pax-6. Cotransfection of a plasmid containing the betaB1-crystallin promoter fused to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene and a plasmid containing the full-length mouse Pax-6 coding sequences into primary embryonic chicken lens epithelial cells or fibroblasts repressed the activity of this promoter by as much as 90%. Pax-6 constructs lacking the C-terminal activation domain repressed betaB1-crystallin promoter activity as effectively as the full-length protein, but the PD alone or Pax-6 (5a), a splice variant with an altered PD affecting its DNA binding specificity, did not. DNase footprinting analysis revealed that truncated Pax-6 (PD+HD) binds to three regions (-183 to -152, -120 to -48, and -30 to +1) of the betaB1-crystallin promoter. Earlier experiments showed that the betaB1-crystallin promoter sequence from -120 to -48 contains a cis element (PL2 at -90 to -76) that stimulates the activity of a heterologous promoter in lens cells but not in fibroblasts. In the present study, we show by electrophoretic mobility shift assay and cotransfection that Pax-6 binds to PL2 and represses its ability to activate promoter activity; moreover, mutation of PL2 eliminated binding by Pax-6. Taken together, our data indicate that Pax-6 (via its PD and HD) represses the betaB1-crystallin promoter by direct interaction with the PL2 element. We thus suggest that the relatively high concentration of Pax-6 contributes to the absence of betaB1-crystallin gene expression in lens epithelial cells and that diminishing amounts of Pax-6 in lens fiber cells during development allow activation of this gene.

Eyes absent: a gene family found in several metazoan phyla

Genes related to the Drosophila eyes absent gene were identified in vertebrates (mouse and human), mollusks (squid), and nematodes (C. elegans). Proteins encoded by these genes consist of conserved C-terminal and variable N-terminal domains. In the conserved 271-amino acid C-terminal region, Drosophila and vertebrate proteins are 65-67% identical. A vertebrate homolog of eyes absent, designated Eya2, was mapped to Chromosome (Chr) 2 in the mouse and to Chr 20q13.1 in human. Eya2 shows a dynamic pattern of expression during development. In the mouse, expression of Eya2 was first detected in 8.5-day embryos in the region of head ectoderm fated to become the forebrain. At later stages of development, Eya2 is expressed in the olfactory placode and in a variety of neural crest derivatives. In the eye, expression of Eya2 was first detected after formation of the lens vesicle. At day 17.5, the highest level of Eya2 mRNA was observed in primary lens fibers. Low levels of Eya2 expression was detected in retina, sclera, and cornea. By postnatal day 10, Eya2 was expressed in secondary lens fibers, cornea, and retina. Although Eya2 is expressed relatively late in eye development, it belongs to the growing list of factors that may be essential for eye development across metazoan phyla. Like members of the Pax-6 gene family, eyes absent gene family members were probably first involved in functions not related to vision, with recruitment for visual system formation and function occurring later.

Comparative mapping of the chicken genome using the East Lansing reference population

The annotation of known genes on linkage maps provides an informative framework for synteny mapping. In comparative gene mapping, conserved synteny is broadly defined as groups of two or more linked markers that are also linked in two or more species. Although many anonymous markers have been placed on the chicken genome map, locating known genes will augment the number of conserved syntenic groups and consolidate linkage groups. In this report, 21 additional genes have been assigned to linkage groups or chromosomes; five syntenic groups were identified. Ultimately, conserved syntenic groups may help to pinpoint important quantitative trait loci.

Spatial and temporal activity of the alpha B-crystallin/small heat shock protein gene promoter in transgenic mice

In order to study the spatial and temporal activity of the mouse alpha B-crystallin/small heat shock gene promoter during embryogenesis, we generated mice harboring a transgene consisting of approximately 4 kbp of alpha B-crystallin promoter sequence fused to the Escherichia coli lacZ reporter gene. beta-galactosidase activity was first observed in the heart rudiment of 8.5 days post coitum (d.p.c.) embryos. An identical expression pattern was obtained for the endogenous alpha B-crystallin gene by whole mount in situ hybridization. At 9.5 d.p.c., beta-galactosidase activity was detected in the lens placode, in the myotome of the somites, in Rathke's pouch (future anterior pituitary), and in some regions of oral ectoderm. We also examined the stress inducibility of the alpha B-crystallin promoter in vivo. Injection of sodium arsenite into mice resulted in increased endogenous alpha B-crystallin expression in the adrenal gland and possibly the liver. Our results indicate that visualization of beta-galactosidase activity provides an accurate reflection of endogenous alpha B-crystallin expression and demonstrate that the complex developmental pattern of mouse alpha B-crystallin gene expression is regulated at the transcriptional level. This expression pattern, coupled with the present literature which addresses functions of the protein, suggests a role for the alpha B-crystallin/small heat shock protein in intermediate filament turnover and cellular remodeling which occur during normal development and differentiation.

Developmental regulation of the chicken beta B1-crystallin promoter in transgenic mice

The cis-elements responsible for the high-level, lens-specific expression of the chicken beta B1-crystallin gene were investigated by generating mice harboring beta B1-crystallin promoter/chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) transgenes. Deletion of promoter sequences -434/-153 and -152/-127 as well as site-directed mutagenesis of the PL1 (-116/-102) and Pl2 (-90/-76) elements significantly decreased CAT gene expression in the lenses of adult transgenic mice. Transfection studies using multimerized PL1 and PL2 elements fused to the chicken beta-actin basal promoter indicated that PL1 is a general activating element while PL2 is involved in the lens-specificity of the chicken beta B1-crystallin promoter. CAT histochemistry demonstrated that the chicken beta B1-crystallin promoter (-434/+30) was active in both primary and secondary lens fiber cells from 12.5 days post coitum (dpc) until adulthood. Activity of the -152/+30/CAT transgene was relatively low and confined to the primary lens fiber cells of 16.5 dpc mice. Together, these data suggest that the reduced activity of this promoter in the adult lens is due both to this developmentally restricted expression pattern and a reduction in promoter activity. RNA hybridization studies demonstrated that the chicken beta B1-crystallin/CAT (-434/+30) transgene was expressed at similar levels in the same cells as the endogenous mouse beta B1-crystallin gene in 16.5 dpc transgenic mouse embryos. These data show a strict conservation of the lens-specific spatial and temporal regulation of the chicken and mouse beta B1-crystallin genes.

The chicken beta A4- and beta B1-crystallin-encoding genes are tightly linked

Analysis of the 5' flanking region of the chicken beta B1-crystallin-encoding gene (beta B1-cry) revealed regions of sequence homology with the bovine beta A4-crystallin-encoding gene (beta A4-cry). Subsequently, the chicken beta A4-cry cDNA sequence was determined, and it was demonstrated that beta A4- and beta B1-cry are linked head to head in the chicken chromosome with 2147 nucleotides (nt) of intergenic spacer. Chicken beta A4-cry contains six exons, with the first exon being noncoding. Chicken beta A4-cry is the smallest beta-cry ever described, due to the small size of its introns which range in length from 68 to 96 nt. While three polymorphisms were noted between some cDNA clones and the genomic sequence, Southern blot analysis demonstrated that beta A4-cry exists as a single copy in the chicken genome. Northern blot analysis indicated that beta A4-cry is a lens-specific transcript which is expressed at higher levels in the embryo than in the adult. The beta A4-cry mRNA is present at 400-fold lower levels than the beta B1-cry mRNA in the 14-day embryonic chicken lens, and at 2000-fold lower levels than the beta B1-cry mRNA in the adult lens. These results are consistent with the idea that the beta-cry family was once clustered in the chromosome as the gamma-cry family is today, and raises the possibility that the relatively low expression of beta A4-cry is mechanistically linked to the high expression of beta B1-cry in the chicken lens.