Distinct regulation of atonal in a visual organ of Drosophila: Organ-specific enhancer and lack of autoregulation in the larval eye.

Drosophila has three types of visual organs, the larval eyes or Bolwig's organs (BO), the ocelli (OC) and the compound eyes (CE). In all, the bHLH protein Atonal (Ato) functions as the proneural factor for photoreceptors and effects the transition from progenitor cells to differentiating neurons. In this work, we investigate the regulation of ato expression in the BO primordium (BOP).

Shared and distinct mechanisms of atonal regulation in Drosophila ocelli and compound eyes.

The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster has two types of external visual organs, a pair of compound eyes and a group of three ocelli. At the time of neurogenesis, the proneural transcription factor Atonal mediates the transition from progenitor cells to differentiating photoreceptor neurons in both organs. In the developing compound eye, atonal (ato) expression is directly induced by transcriptional regulators that confer retinal identity, the Retinal Determination (RD) factors.

Fly LMBR1/LIMR-type protein Lilipod promotes germ-line stem cell self-renewal by enhancing BMP signaling.

Limb development membrane protein-1 (LMBR1)/lipocalin-interacting membrane receptor (LIMR)-type proteins are putative nine-transmembrane receptors that are evolutionarily conserved across metazoans. However, their biological function is unknown. Here, we show that the fly family member Lilipod (Lili) is required for germ-line stem cell (GSC) self-renewal in the Drosophila ovary where it enhances bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling.

ImagePAD, a novel counting application for the Apple iPad, used to quantify axons in the mouse optic nerve.

The present article introduces a new and easy to use counting application for the Apple iPad. The application "ImagePAD" takes advantage of the advanced user interface features offered by the Apple iOS platform, simplifying the rather tedious task of quantifying features in anatomical studies. For example, the image under analysis can be easily panned and zoomed using iOS-supported multi-touch gestures without losing the spatial context of the counting task, which is extremely important for ensuring count accuracy.

Genetic networks in the mouse retina: growth associated protein 43 and phosphatase tensin homolog network.

Purpose: The present study examines the structure and covariance of endogenous variation in gene expression across the recently expanded family of C57BL/6J (B) X DBA/2J (D) Recombinant Inbred (BXD RI) strains of mice. This work is accompanied by a highly interactive database that can be used to generate and test specific hypotheses. For example, we define the genetic network regulating growth associated protein 43 (Gap43) and phosphatase tensin homolog (Pten).

Gene expression in the mouse eye: an online resource for genetics using 103 strains of mice.

Purpose: Individual differences in patterns of gene expression account for much of the diversity of ocular phenotypes and variation in disease risk. We examined the causes of expression differences, and in their linkage to sequence variants, functional differences, and ocular pathophysiology.

Methods: mRNAs from young adult eyes were hybridized to oligomer microarrays (Affymetrix M430v2).

Circadian modulation of temporal properties of the rod pathway in larval Xenopus.

Circadian clocks are integral components of visual systems. They help adjust an animal's vision to diurnal changes in ambient illumination. To understand how circadian clocks may adapt visual sensitivity, we investigated the spatial and temporal properties of optomotor responses of young Xenopus laevis tadpoles (Nieuwkoop and Faber, developmental stage 48) using a modified 2-alternative preferential-viewing method.

Detection of differentially expressed genes in healing mouse corneas, using cDNA microarrays.

Purpose: To identify differentially expressed genes in healing mouse corneas by using cDNA microarrays.

Methods: Transepithelial excimer laser ablations were performed on mouse corneas, and the wounds were allowed to heal partially in vivo for 18 to 22 hours. Total RNA was isolated from both normal and healing corneas and was used for synthesis of cDNA probes.