Identification of RALDH-3, a novel retinaldehyde dehydrogenase, expressed in the ventral region of the retina

Citation
R. Suzuki et al., Identification of RALDH-3, a novel retinaldehyde dehydrogenase, expressed in the ventral region of the retina, MECH DEVEL, 98(1-2), 2000, pp. 37-50
Citations number
56
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Cell & Developmental Biology
Journal title
MECHANISMS OF DEVELOPMENT
ISSN journal
0925-4773 → ACNP
Volume
98
Issue
1-2
Year of publication
2000
Pages
37 - 50
Database
ISI
SICI code
0925-4773(200011)98:1-2<37:IORANR>2.0.ZU;2-H
Abstract
In the developing retina, a retinoic acid (RA) gradient along the dorso-ven tral axis is believed to be a prerequisite for the establishment of dorso-v entral asymmetry. This RA gradient is thought to result from the asymmetric al distribution of RA-generating aldehyde dehydrogenases along the dorso-ve ntral axis. Here, we identified a novel aldehyde dehydrogenase specifically expressed in the chick ventral retina, using restriction landmark cDNA sca nning (RLCS). Since this molecule showed enzymatic activity to produce RA f rom retinaldehyde, we designated it retinaldehyde dehydrogenase 3 (RALDH-3) . Structural similarity suggested that RALDH-3 is the orthologue of human a ldehyde dehydrogenase 6. We also isolated RALDH-1 which is expressed in the chick dorsal retina and implicated in RA formation. Raldh-3 was preferenti ally expressed first in the surface ectoderm overlying the ventral portion of the prospective eye region and then in the ventral retina, earlier than Raldh-1 in chick and mouse embryos. High level expression of Raldh-3 was al so observed in the nasal region. In addition, we found that Pax6 mutants ar e devoid of Raldh-3 expression. These results suggested that Raldh-3 is the key enzyme in the formation of an RA gradient along the dorso-ventral axis during the early eye development, and also in the development of the olfac tory system. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.