title: PAX-6 in development and evolution.
abstract: Pax-6 is a member of the Pax gene class and encodes a protein containing a paired domain and a homeodomain. The molecular characterization of Pax-6 genes from species of different animal phyla and the analysis of Pax-6 function in the developing eyes and central nervous system of vertebrates, Drosophila melanogaster, and Caenorhabditis elegans suggest that Pax-6 homologues share conserved functions. In this review, we present recent data on the structural and functional characterization of Pax-6 homologues from species of different animal phyla. We discuss the implications of these findings for our understanding of the development and evolution of eyes and nervous systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Biozentrum, University of Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Callaerts
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Halder
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Gehring
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D005136:Eye Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: 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