Transcriptional signature of accessory cells in the lateral line, using the Tnk1bp1:EGFP transgenic zebrafish line

In an effort to understand the regenerative process of hair cells in fish, we characterized and cloned an egfp transgenic stable fish line that trapped tnks1bp1, a highly conserved gene that has been implicated in the maintenance of telomeres' length. We then used this Tg(tnks1bp1:EGFP) line in a FACsorting strategy combined with microarrays to identify new molecular markers for supporting cells.We present a Tg(tnks1bp1:EGFP) stable transgenic line, which we used to establish a transcriptional profile of supporting cells in the zebrafish lateral line. Therefore we are providing a new set of markers specific for supporting cells as well as candidates for functional analysis of this important cell type. This will prove to be a valuable tool for the study of regeneration in the lateral line of zebrafish in particular and for regeneration of neuroepithelia in general.The field of auditory biology has made tremendous strides over recent decades, but molecular characterization has been greatly hampered by the paucity of available neuroepithelia and the difficulty in accessing the inner ear. In mammals, the sensory tissue is deeply buried in the skull and presents few and small discrete sensory regions.The lateral line, a sensory organ specific to fish and amphibians, offers an excellent alternative "model organ" for the inner ear, because of its strong similarities and common developmental program [1-4]. The superficially and stereotypically distributed sensory patches along the side of the fish are called neuromasts [3,5]. Like neuroepithelia in the inner ear, neuromasts are composed of two main cell types, hair cells and supporting cells. Hair cells are mechanoreceptors, which are transducing the mechanical deflection of their apical cilia into electrical signals that are relayed to the CNS [6]. The lateral line is directly exposed to its aqueous surroundings and the hair cells are triggered by water movements, influencing swimming behaviors [7]. The supporting cells ar