Researchers Study Gene Critical in Animal Development
Summary
Raleigh, NC, January 24, 2010 --( Sp2 is a member of the Sp family of transcription factors, proteins that act as cellular “switchboard operators” by turning genes on or off as needed.“We think that these fish may be a useful tool—an aquatic canary in the coal mine—that will allow us to detect early tumor development.” CCMTR scientists, using fluorescent zebrafish embryos, are finding that SP2 gene plays a major role in the earliest stages of animal development.These investigators are involved in collaborative ”One Health” studies with government, private, and other academic researchers to advance knowledge and practical applications that improve the health of animals and humans.### Raleigh, NC, January 24, 2010 --( PR.com )-- Researchers at North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine are using “fluorescent fish” as a molecular "beacon" to study cancer and animal development.These investigators are involved in collaborative ”One Health” studies with government, private, and other academic researchers to advance knowledge and practical applications that improve the health of animals and humans.Note to editors: The abstract of the paper follows.“SP2 is a maternally inherited transcription factor required for embryonic development”Authors: Jianzhen Xie, Haifeng Yin, Teresa D. Nichols, Jeffrey A. Yoder and Jonathan M. Horowitz, Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences and the Center for Comparative Medicine and Translational Research, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University.Published: February 2010 in The Journal of Biological ChemistryAbstract: The Sp-family of transcription factors are required for the expression of cell cycle- and developmentally-regulated genes, and the deregulated expression of a handful of family members is associated with human tumorigenesis.