High impact information on zic2a

• Using a combination of in vivo assays, we show that zic2a and zic5 transcription is activated by Tcf/Lef transcription factors in the dorsal midbrain [1].
• We report isolation of two members of the zic gene family, zic2 and zic3, which mark distinct regions in the developing nervous system. zic3 is expressed in early gastrula embryos in a posterior domain, directly demonstrating that A/P pattern is present in the future neurectoderm by this stage [2].
• A zic2.2 ortholog has not been identified in other vertebrate species, suggesting that the zic2.1/zic2.2 pair resulted from a genome duplication event during the evolution of the zebrafish lineage [3].
• Compared to zic2.1, zic2.2 was expressed in a similar but distinct manner during early development, particularly in the retina and the forming somites [3].

References