Bsx controls pineal complex development

The gene Bsx is essential for the development of the parapineal organ in zebrafish, with mutations leading to developmental abnormalities.

• Throughout zebrafish embryonic development, Bsx is expressed in all cell types of the pineal complex.
• Bmp and Noto/Flh are identified as major regulators of Bsx expression in this complex.
• Loss of Bsx results in failure to form a parapineal organ and leads to right-isomerized habenulae.
• Mutant embryos show absence of crucial enzymes in the melatonin biosynthesis pathway, indicating a lack of melatonin production.
• Abnormal expression of several genes related to phototransduction suggests Bsx's role in differentiating multiple cell types in the pineal complex.

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