Cloning and characterization of two isoforms of the zebrafish thyrotroph embryonic factor (tefα and tefβ)

Abstract

We have clone and sequenced two cDNAs representing two isoforms of the zebrafish thyrotroph embryonic factor (TEF) gene products (tefα and β), a member of the PAR subfamily of bZIP transcription factors. The two isoforms encode two potential proteins of 300 and 293 amino acids respectively. Sequence comparison analysis indicate that the zebrafish tefs show high homology to PAR family of transcription factors of other species in the PAR domain, DNA binding domain and leucine zipper domain. Expression analysis by Northern blot and RT-PCR indicates that tefα and tefβ are expressed in adult fish and throughout the zebrafish embryonic development. In addition, the two tefs are expressed in some adult tissues, but not others.