Both 5' and 3' flanks regulate Zebrafish brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene expression.

Background: Precise control of developmental and cell-specific expression of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene is essential for normal neuronal development and the diverse functions of BDNF in the adult organism. We previously showed that the zebrafish BDNF gene has multiple promoters. The complexity of the promoter structure and the mechanisms that mediate developmental and cell-specific expression are still incompletely understood.