Specification of the vertebrate eye by a network of eye field transcription factors

Development. 2003 Nov;130(21):5155-67. doi: 10.1242/dev.00723. Epub 2003 Aug 27.

Abstract

Several eye-field transcription factors (EFTFs) are expressed in the anterior region of the vertebrate neural plate and are essential for eye formation. The Xenopus EFTFs ET, Rx1, Pax6, Six3, Lhx2, tll and Optx2 are expressed in a dynamic, overlapping pattern in the presumptive eye field. Expression of an EFTF cocktail with Otx2 is sufficient to induce ectopic eyes outside the nervous system at high frequency. Using both cocktail subsets and functional (inductive) analysis of individual EFTFs, we have revealed a genetic network regulating vertebrate eye field specification. Our results support a model of progressive tissue specification in which neural induction then Otx2-driven neural patterning primes the anterior neural plate for eye field formation. Next, the EFTFs form a self-regulating feedback network that specifies the vertebrate eye field. We find striking similarities and differences to the network of homologous Drosophila genes that specify the eye imaginal disc, a finding that is consistent with the idea of a partial evolutionary conservation of eye formation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Body Patterning
  • Carrier Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Drosophila Proteins / genetics
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism
  • Drosophila melanogaster / anatomy & histology
  • Drosophila melanogaster / embryology
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
  • Eye / embryology*
  • Eye / metabolism
  • Eye Proteins / genetics
  • Eye Proteins / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Homeobox Protein SIX3
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • LIM-Homeodomain Proteins
  • Morphogenesis*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
  • Otx Transcription Factors
  • PAX6 Transcription Factor
  • Paired Box Transcription Factors
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism
  • Trans-Activators / genetics
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Xenopus Proteins / genetics
  • Xenopus Proteins / metabolism
  • Xenopus laevis / anatomy & histology
  • Xenopus laevis / embryology
  • Xenopus laevis / genetics
  • Xenopus laevis / metabolism

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • Eye Proteins
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • LHX2 protein, human
  • LIM-Homeodomain Proteins
  • Lhx2 protein, mouse
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • OTX2 protein, human
  • Otx Transcription Factors
  • Otx2 protein, Xenopus
  • PAX6 Transcription Factor
  • PAX6 protein, human
  • Paired Box Transcription Factors
  • Pax6 protein, mouse
  • Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins
  • SIX6 protein, human
  • TLL protein, Drosophila
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • Xenopus Proteins
  • six6 protein, Xenopus
  • transcription repression factor ET, Xenopus
  • noggin protein