JAZF1 (Juxtaposed with Another Zinc Finger gene 1) transcription factor are Zn-finger proteins that bind to the nuclear orphan receptor TAK/TR4 (Nakajima et al., 2004). The nuclear orphan receptor TAK1/TR4 functions as a positive as well as a negative regulator of transcription. It was recently reported that congenital cardiovascular malformations are significantly more frequent in Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) patients with microdeletion syndrome than in those with classical NF1. JAZF1 was expressed in adult heart of patients with microdeletion syndrome. JAZF1 is highly conserved among various species include zebrafish. We hypothesized that the expression of zebrafish Jazf1 may lead to severe forms of congenital heart disease that allow the survival of newborns and adults. In this study, we created Jazf1 transgenic zebrafish which over-express zebrafish Jazf1 cDNA under control of the CMV promoter. Our results suggested that Jazf1 expression may play an important role in zebrafish cardiac development.

ABSTRACT   INTRODUCTION   MATERIALS AND METHODS    Cloning and Construction of Vector    Microinjection of Mouse Jazf1 Gene into Zebrafish Embryos    Imaging    Data Analysis   RESULTS    Protein Alignment of Jazf1 from Four Species    Jazf1 Overexpression Vector Construct    Randomization of Heart Looping in Jazf1 Overexpression Zebrafish Embryos   DISCUSSION   REFERENCES

• Mi Jung Shin(School of Life Science and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University)
• Hyung Soo Yuh(School of Life Science and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University)
• Byoung Boo Seo(Dept. of Animal Resources, College of Life & Environmental Science, Daegu University)
• Humdai Park(Dept. of Biotechnology, College of Engineering, Daegu University)
• Du Hak Yoon(School of Life Science and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University)
• Zae Young Ryoo(School of Life Science and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University) Corresponding author