Fig. 6. Swapped domain experiments suggest that the C terminus of XOtx2 or XOtx5b
is necessary in determining bipolar or photoreceptor cell fate, respectively.
(A) Schematic of constructs used in lipofection experiments. N, N terminus;
HD, homeodomain; C, C terminus; 2, XOtx2; 5b, XOtx5b. (B-D)
Stage 41 lipofected retinas were sagittally cryostat sectioned (10 µm)
after transfection with GFP and pCS2+ vector, XOtx2/5b or
XOtx5b/2 during early stages of eye formation. Lines are drawn over
inner and outer plexiform layers to define the laminated retina (see
Fig. 4). (B) GFP
lipofected retina shows all retinal cell types. (C) GFP and
XOtx2/5b lipofected retinas have an increase of photoreceptor cells
as do XOtx5b lipofected retinas. (D) GFP and XOtx5b/2
lipofected retinas also have an increase of bipolar cells. (E-F) Quantitative
analysis of retinas lipofected with GFP and pCS2+ compared
to retinas lipofected with (E) XOtx5b/2 and GFP
(pCS2+, n=24; XOtx5b/2, n=30) or (F) GFP
and XOtx2/5b (pCS2+, n=26; XOtx2/5b,
n=23). The ratio of retinal cells per total retina was calculated for
each retina and then the ratios averaged for the total retinas counted
(n). The error bars, s.e.m.; P
0.05 (Student's
t-test).