Eichenlaub, M. | Search bioRxiv

bioRxiv2021

The human FLT1 regulatory element directs vascular expression and modulates angiogenesis pathways in vitro and in vivo

There is growing evidence that mutations in non-coding cis-regulatory elements (CREs) disrupt proper development. However, little is known about human CREs that are crucial for cardiovascular development. To address this, we bioinformatically identified cardiovascular CREs based on the occupancy of the CRE by the homeodomain protein NKX2-5 and cardiac chromatin histone modifications. This search defined a highly conserved CRE within the FLT1 locus termed enFLT1. We show that the human enFLT1 is an enhancer capable of driving reporter transgene expression in vivo throughout the developing cardiovascular system of medaka. Deletion of the human enFLT1 enhancer ({Delta}enFLT1) triggered molecular perturbations in extracellular matrix organisation and blood vessel morphogenesis in vitro in endothelial cells derived from human embryonic stem cells and vascular defects in vivo in medaka. These findings highlight the crucial role of the human FLT1 enhancer and its function as a regulator and buffer of transcriptional regulation in cardiovascular development.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2020

Transcriptome analysis of the zebrafish atoh7-/- mutant, lakritz, highlights Atoh7-dependent genetic networks with potential implications for human eye diseases

Expression of the bHLH transcription protein Atoh7 is a crucial factor conferring competence to retinal progenitor cells for the development of retinal ganglion cells. A number of studies have emerged establishing ATOH7 as a retinal disease gene. Remarkably, such studies uncovered ATOH7 variants associated with global eye defects including optic nerve hypoplasia, microphthalmia, retinal vascular disorders and glaucoma. The complex genetic networks and cellular decisions arising downstream of atoh7 expression, and how their dysregulation cause development of such disease traits remains unknown. To begin to understand such Atoh7-dependent events in vivo we performed transcriptome analysis of wild type and atoh7 mutant (lakritz) zebrafish embryos at the onset of retinal ganglion cell differentiation. We investigated in silico interplays of atoh7 and other disease-related genes and pathways. By network reconstruction analysis of differentially expressed genes we identified gene clusters enriched in retinal development, cell cycle, chromatin remodelling, stress response and Wnt pathways. By weighted gene coexpression network we identified coexpression modules affected by the mutation and enriched in retina development genes tightly connected to atoh7. We established the groundwork whereby Atoh7-linked cellular and molecular processes can be investigated in the dynamic multi-tissue environment of the developing normal and diseased vertebrate eye.

developmental biology↗