Expression patterns of alternative transcripts of the zebrafish olfaetomedin 1 genes

Olfactomedin I (Olfm l) is a founding member of the family of olfactomedin domain-containing proteins. It is a secreted protein that performs different roles in different species. Although the molecular mechanisms of Olfm l action are not known, its possible roles include the regulation of neural crest cell production. neuronal differentiation, and ischemic neuronal death in adult. Two zebrafish olfm l genes (olfm Ia and olfm lb) located on chromosomes 5 and 21 were identified in zebrafish genome. Four different transcripts are produced from each olfm l] gene. The distribution of these transcripts in the course of zebrafish early development was studied by in situ hybridization and quantitative RT-PCR. Different variants of olfml mRNA were present mainly in neurogenic tissues and demonstrated overlapping expression patterns. Published by Elsevier B.V.