Disease relevance of FABP7

• Accumulation of R-FABP in the neurites of ganglion cells could readily be detected at early developmental stages [1].

High impact information on FABP7

• A combination of data including the expression profile of AP-2 during retinal development and DNA transfection analysis using constructs mutated at critical residues within the AP-2 binding site suggests that AP-2 is a repressor of R-FABP transcription [2].
• Supershift experiments using antibodies to AP-2 and methylation interference experiments indicate that an AP-2-like transcription factor present in both late-proliferative-stage retina and differentiated retina binds to the upstream region of the R-FABP gene [2].
• In conjunction with the morphogen-binding activity of other FABP family members and their impact on cell migration and tissue differentiation, R-FABP characteristics suggest a regulatory function during retinal histogenesis but not during topographic map formation [3].
• Cell somata, axons, and growth cones were R-FABP immunoreactive [3].
• R-FABP is highly expressed in the undifferentiated retina and brain of chick embryos [4].

Biological context of FABP7

• Retinal fatty acid binding protein (R-FABP) is the avian counterpart of murine brain FABP implicated in glial cell differentiation and neuronal cell migration [4].
• We have previously shown by in vitro studies that the AP-2 transcription factor binds to a consensus AP-2 binding site in the R-FABP promoter region [4].

Anatomical context of FABP7

• At later stages, the concentration of R-FABP in the processes of neuronal cells would suggest a biochemical or structural role related to neurite extension and synapse formation [1].
• As well, R-FABP mRNA and protein were abundant in the non-pigmented ciliary epithelium, which represents the forward prolongation of the retina in the anterior eye [1].
• By day 11, R-FABP transcript levels were considerably reduced in the retina, while the protein was primarily found in the inner nuclear layer, inner plexiform layer and optic nerve fiber layer of the retina [1].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of FABP7

• Immunoelectron microscopy revealed the presence of R-FABP in both the nucleus and cytoplasm of day 4 retinal cells [1].
• To determine the location of the R-FABP transcript and its encoded protein in the developing retina, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical analyses were carried out using chick embryos at different stages of development [1].

References