Probing the Xenopus laevis inner ear transcriptome for biological function.

摘要: The senses of hearing and balance depend upon mechanoreception, a process that originates in the inner ear shares features across species. Amphibians have been widely used for physiological studies mechanotransduction by sensory hair cells. In contrast, much less is known genetic basis auditory vestibular function this class animals. Among amphibians, genus Xenopus well-characterized developmental model offers unique opportunities research because amphibian capacity tissue organ regeneration. For these reasons, we implemented functional genomics approach as means to undertake large-scale analysis laevis transcriptome through microarray analysis. Microarray uncovered genes within X. associated with impairment other organisms, thereby supporting inclusion cross-species ear. use gene categories (inner tissue; deafness; ion channels; transporters; transcription factors) facilitated assignment significance probe set identifiers. We enhanced biological relevance our data using variety curation approaches increase annotation Affymetrix GeneChip® Genome array. addition, revealed prevalence transcripts represented identifiers lack characterization. identified an abundance targets function. orthologues human highly expressed are particularly interesting candidates future analyses. informatics impart biologically relevant information transcriptome, addressing impediment imposed insufficient annotation. These findings heighten organism investigations organogenesis, morphogenesis,