title: Pax proteins and eye development.
abstract: Homologous members of the Pax gene family are required for eye development in Drosophila and vertebrates. Despite superficial similarities in the phenotypes of vertebrates with mutations in pax-6 and Drosophila eyeless mutants, it remains uncertain whether the two proteins encoded by these genes have comparable functions. The genetic cascade triggered by eyeless leads to eye formation, whereas pax-6 is not necessary for optic vesicle formation, but is required at other stages of eye development. A second vertebrate Pax gene, pax-2, is also required during eye development and appears to play a role during closure of the choroid fissure.
authors.affiliation: Developmental Biology Research Centre, Kings College London, UK. UDBL061@kcl.ac.uk
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Macdonald
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Wilson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005123:Eye / Q000254:growth & development*; D005796:Genes / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D014157:Transcription Factors