title: Crx, a novel otx-like homeobox gene, shows photoreceptor-specific expression and regulates photoreceptor differentiation.
abstract: We have isolated a novel otx-like homeobox gene, Crx, from the mouse retina. Crx expression is restricted to developing and mature photoreceptor cells. CRX bound and transactivated the sequence TAATCC/A, which is found upstream of several photoreceptor-specific genes, including the opsin genes from many species. Overexpression of Crx using a retroviral vector increased the frequency of clones containing exclusively rod photoreceptors and reduced the frequency of clones containing amacrine interneurons and Müller glial cells. In addition, presumptive photoreceptor cells expressing a dominant-negative form of CRX failed to form proper photoreceptor outer segments and terminals. Crx is a novel photoreceptor-specific transcription factor and plays a crucial role in the differentiation of photoreceptor cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Furukawa
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Morrow
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Cepko
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D005801:Genes, Homeobox / Q000235:genetics*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007395:Interneurons / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008979:Moloney murine leukemia virus / Q000235:genetics; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009457:Neuroglia; D009928:Organ Specificity; D051857:Otx Transcription Factors; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000235:genetics; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017948:Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells / Q000166:cytology; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015533:Transcriptional Activation
chemical_list: D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D051857:Otx Transcription Factors; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; C109288:cone rod homeobox protein; C084433:interphotoreceptor-retinoid binding protein (1158-1180); D004247:DNA