Cis-Regulatory Sequences for Onecut1 and Onecut2 Genes in Development of Retina

Onecut1 (OC1) and Onecut2 (OC2) are two genes essential for the differentiation of retinal cells during early embryonic development. This project tries to identify potential enhancer sequences that may play a role in regulating the gene expression of OC1 and OC2 using chick and mouse models. To do so, several evolutionary conserved sequences across various species were identified as candidate enhancers. These sequences were then cloned into a reporter vector and electroporated into the retinal cells. The correlation of OC1 and OC2 protein expression to the reporter expression driven by potential enhancer sequences were monitored using immunostaining procedures. Several sequences were identified as likely involved in regulating the expression of both these genes using this criteria. Information obtained about these enhancers can be used to better understand early eye development and problems that may arise during development resulting in retinal diseases.