Abstract
The homeobox gene Six3 regulates forebrain development. Here we show that Six3 is also crucial for lens formation. Conditional deletion of mouse Six3 in the presumptive lens ectoderm (PLE) disrupted lens formation. In the most severe cases, lens induction and specification were defective, and the lens placode and lens were absent. In Six3-mutant embryos, Pax6 was downregulated, and Sox2 was absent in the lens preplacodal ectoderm. Using ChIP, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and luciferase reporter assays, we determined that Six3 activates Pax6 and Sox2 expression. Misexpression of mouse Six3 into chick embryos promoted the ectopic expansion of the ectodermal Pax6 expression domain. Our results position Six3 at the top of the regulatory pathway leading to lens formation. We conclude that Six3 directly activates Pax6 and probably also Sox2 in the PLE and regulates cell autonomously the earliest stages of mammalian lens induction.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Chick Embryo
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DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
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DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
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Eye Proteins / biosynthesis*
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Eye Proteins / genetics
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Eye Proteins / physiology*
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Female
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
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Homeobox Protein SIX3
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Homeodomain Proteins / biosynthesis*
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Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
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Homeodomain Proteins / physiology*
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Lens, Crystalline / abnormalities
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Lens, Crystalline / embryology*
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Lens, Crystalline / metabolism
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Mice
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Mutation
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / biosynthesis
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / physiology*
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PAX6 Transcription Factor
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Paired Box Transcription Factors / biosynthesis*
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Paired Box Transcription Factors / genetics
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Repressor Proteins / biosynthesis*
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Repressor Proteins / genetics
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SOXB1 Transcription Factors
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Signal Transduction
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Trans-Activators / genetics
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Trans-Activators / metabolism
Substances
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Eye Proteins
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Homeodomain Proteins
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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PAX6 Transcription Factor
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Paired Box Transcription Factors
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Pax6 protein, mouse
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Repressor Proteins
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SOXB1 Transcription Factors
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Sox2 protein, mouse
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Trans-Activators