Visualizerin
Visualizerin is a protein identified in the early 2000s as part of a gene cluster implicated in retinal development. The gene, VIZ1, was first discovered during a screen for transcription factors expressed in the developing optic tectum of zebrafish. Subsequent cloning revealed that visualizerin contains a helix‑turn‑helix DNA‑binding domain and a serine‑rich region that mediates interactions with other transcriptional regulators.
Functional studies using morpholino knockdown and CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in zebrafish and mouse models show that
Beyond ocular tissues, low-level expression of visualizerin has been reported in certain brain regions associated with
Clinical relevance has emerged in research linking visualizerin mutations to inherited retinal dystrophies. Screening of retinal