Lens development and crystallin gene expression: many roles for Pax-6.
The vertebrate eye lens has been used extensively as a model for developmental processes such as determination, embryonic induction, cellular differentiation, transdifferentiation and regeneration, with the crystallin genes being a prime example of developmentally controlled, tissue-preferred gene expression. Recent studies have shown that Pax-6, a transcription factor containing both a paired domain and homeodomain, is a key protein regulating lens determination and crystallin gene expression in the lens. The use of Pax-6 for expression of different crystallin genes provides a new link at the developmental and transcriptional level among the diverse crystallins and may lead to new insights into their evolutionary recruitment as refractive proteins.
Cvekl
A
A
Laboratory of Molecular and Developmental Biology, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-2730, USA. Cvekl@ncifcrf.gov
Piatigorsky
J
J
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003459:Crystallins / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D005136:Eye Proteins; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*
D003459:Crystallins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors