Developmental expression patterns of FTZ-F1 homologues in zebrafish (Daniorerio)

The fushi tarazu factor 1 (FTZ-F1) gene family constitutes a subgroup of or phan nuclear receptors which can be divided into two groups (LRH/FTF- and S F-1/Ad4BP-like) based on sequence homology, function, and tissue distributi on. Analysis of zebrafish FTZ-F1 homologues (zFF1 and ff1b) during embryoge nesis indicated distinct expression patterns for both genes. Besides the pr eviously observed expression in pituitary/hypothalamus and mandibular arch, zFF1 transcripts were also detected in domains corresponding to the pronep hric duct, somites, liver, and hindbrain. Additionally, ff1b transcripts we re detected at other developmental stages than earlier documented. Comparat ive sequence analysis showed that zFF1 exhibited higher sequence similarity to the LRH/FTF group than the SF-1/Ad4BP group, whereas ff1b was indisting uishable between the groups. These observations, coupled with obtained expr ession patterns, indicate that zebrafish FTZ-F1 homologues exhibit characte ristics that are indicative of both LRH/FTF- and SF-1/ Ad4BP-like genes. (C ) 2001 Academic Press.