AUTHOR=Feng Gang , Sun Yuhua 

TITLE=The Polycomb group gene rnf2 is essential for central and enteric neural system development in zebrafish

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neuroscience

VOLUME=16

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2022.960149

DOI=10.3389/fnins.2022.960149

ISSN=1662-453X

ABSTRACT=<p>The development of central nervous system (CNS) and enteric nervous system (ENS) is under precise and strict control in vertebrates. Whether and how the Polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) is involved in it remain unclear. To investigate the role of PRC1 in the nervous system development, using CRISPR/Cas9 technology, we have generated mutant zebrafish lines for the <italic>rnf2</italic> gene which encodes Ring1b, the enzymatic component of the PRC1 complex. We show that <italic>rnf2</italic> loss of function leads to abnormal migration and differentiation of neural crest and neural precursor cells. <italic>rnf2</italic> mutant embryos exhibit aganglionosis, in which the hindgut is devoid of neurons. In particular, the formation of 5-HT serotonin neurons and myelinating glial cells is defective. Furthermore, ectopic expression of ENS marker genes is observed in forebrain of <italic>rnf2</italic> mutant embryos. These findings suggest that the <italic>rnf2</italic> gene plays an important role in the migration and differentiation of neural precursor cells, and its absence leads to abnormal development of ENS and CNS in zebrafish.</p>