Characterization of the role of nr2e1 in pituitary development and its relationship with hormonal terminal differentiation in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

• Grant number: 24/23635-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Molecular Biology
• Principal Investigator: Luciani Renata Silveira de Carvalho
• Grantee: Luna Maria Valentin Maciel
• Host Institution: Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da USP (HCFMUSP). Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The nuclear receptor TLX (Nr2e1) is a critical transcription factor for neural development and adult neurogenesis through its actions in regulating neural stem cell proliferation, self-renewal, and differentiation. However, the role of the Nr2e1 gene in pituitary development has not yet been characterized. This project aims to investigate a possible role of the Nr2e1 gene in the terminal differentiation of pituitary hormones. To achieve this, a zebrafish (Danio rerio) mutant model with a deletion of the nr2e1 gene, generated using the CRISPR-Cas9 technique, will be used. Based on previous studies of this lineage, it has been observed that the mutation causes such a severe loss of gene function that homozygous animals do not survive beyond the 10th day of life, rendering it an unviable model for studies at later developmental stages. Therefore, this study aims to identify genotypic and phenotypic characteristics in nr2e1 homozygous mutants that may be associated with alterations in pituitary development, as well as to evaluate the expression of genes related to the differentiation of hormone-producing cells.