A framework to identify functional interactors that contribute to disrupted early retinal development in Vsx2 ocular retardation J mice.

BACKGROUND: A goal of developmental genetics is to identify functional interactions that underlie phenotypes caused by mutations. We sought to identify functional interactors of Vsx2, which when mutated, disrupts early retinal development. We utilized the Vsx2 loss-of-function mouse, ocular retardation J (orJ), to assess interactions based on principles of positive and negative epistasis as applied to bulk transcriptome data. This was first tested in vivo with Mitf, a target of Vsx2 repression, and then to cultures of orJ retina treated with inhibitors of Retinoid-X Receptors (RXR) to target Rxrg, an up-regulated gene in the orJ retina, and gamma-Secretase, an enzyme required for Notch signaling, a key mediator of retinal proliferation and neurogenesis. RESULTS: Whereas Mitf exhibited robust positive epistasis with Vsx2, it only partially accounts for the orJ phenotype, suggesting other functional interactors. RXR inhibition yielded minimal evidence for epistasis between Vsx2 and Rxrg. In contrast, gamma-Secretase inhibition caused hundreds of Vsx2-dependent genes associated with proliferation to deviate further from wild-type, providing evidence for convergent negative epistasis with Vsx2 in regulating tissue growth. CONCLUSIONS: Combining in vivo and ex vivo testing with transcriptome analysis revealed quantitative and qualitative characteristics of functional interaction between Vsx2, Mitf, RXR, and gamma-Secretase activities.

Differential Expression of NF2 in Neuroepithelial Compartments Is Necessary for Mammalian Eye Development.

The optic neuroepithelial continuum of vertebrate eye develops into three differentially growing compartments: the retina, the ciliary margin (CM), and the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Neurofibromin 2 (Nf2) is strongly expressed in slowly expanding RPE and CM compartments, and the loss of mouse Nf2 causes hyperplasia in these compartments, replicating the ocular abnormalities seen in human NF2 patients. The hyperplastic ocular phenotypes were largely suppressed by heterozygous deletion of Yap and Taz, key targets of the Nf2-Hippo signaling pathway. We also found that, in addition to feedback transcriptional regulation of Nf2 by Yap/Taz in the CM, activation of Nf2 expression by Mitf in the RPE and suppression by Sox2 in retinal progenitor cells are necessary for the differential growth of the corresponding cell populations. Together, our findings reveal that Nf2 is a key player that orchestrates the differential growth of optic neuroepithelial compartments during vertebrate eye development.

Neurotransmitter-Regulated Regeneration in the Zebrafish Retina.

Current efforts to repair damaged or diseased mammalian retinas are inefficient and largely incapable of fully restoring vision. Conversely, the zebrafish retina is capable of spontaneous regeneration upon damage using Müller glia (MG)-derived progenitors. Understanding how zebrafish MG initiate regeneration may help develop new treatments that prompt mammalian retinas to regenerate. We show that inhibition of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) signaling facilitates initiation of MG proliferation. GABA levels decrease following damage, and MG are positioned to detect decreased ambient levels and undergo dedifferentiation. Using pharmacological and genetic approaches, we demonstrate that GABAA receptor inhibition stimulates regeneration in undamaged retinas while activation inhibits regeneration in damaged retinas.

miR-216a regulates snx5, a novel notch signaling pathway component, during zebrafish retinal development.

Precise regulation of Notch signaling is essential for normal vertebrate development. Mind bomb (Mib) is a ubiquitin ligase that is required for activation of Notch by Notch׳s ligand, Delta. Sorting Nexin 5 (SNX5) co-localizes with Mib and Delta complexes and has been shown to directly bind to Mib. We show that microRNA-216a (miR-216a) is expressed in the retina during early development and regulates snx5 to precisely regulate Notch signaling. miR-216a and snx5 have complementary expression patterns. Knocking down miR-216a and/or overexpression of snx5 resulted in increased Notch activation. Conversely, knocking down snx5 and/or miR-216a overexpression caused a decrease in Notch activation. We propose a model in which SNX5, precisely controlled by miR-216a, is a vital partner of Mib in promoting endocytosis of Delta and subsequent activation of Notch signaling.