Abstract
PURPOSE: The Notch-1 signaling pathway is an evolutionary conserved mechanism that regulates differentiation of immature cells through cell-cell interactions. We have shown previously that the expression of Notch-1 receptor is associated with differentiating cells at successive stages of retinal neurogenesis (Ahmad et al. Mach. Dev. 1995, 53: 73-85). To test the hypothesis that the Notch-1 signaling at successive stages of cell fate determination in the retina involves differential usage of ligands we have begun to identify and study the Notch-1 ligands Delta-1 and Jagged in the vertebrate retina. METHODS: Identification of transcripts corresponding to Delta-1 and Jagged involved amplification of chicken and rat retinal cDNA library, followed by Southern analyses and sequencing. The temporal and spatial expression involved RT-PCR and in situ hybridization analyses. RESULTS: Cloning of the putative Notch-1 ligands revealed that transcripts corresponding to Delta-1 and Jagged are expressed in the retina. Like Notch-1, both Delta-1 and Jagged are expressed during retinal development. However, preliminary results suggest that the temporal expression pattern of Delta-1 is distinct from that of Jagged. Studies are underway to understand the functional involvement of Delta-1 and Jagged in Notch-1 signaling in the retina. CONCLUSIONS: The developing retina expresses both Delta-1 and Jagged. These putative Notch-1 ligands may participate in the Notch-1 signaling during successive cell-fate determination in the retina.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | S200 |
Journal | Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science |
Volume | 37 |
Issue number | 3 |
State | Published - Feb 15 1996 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ophthalmology
- Sensory Systems
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience