title: The zinc finger proteins Pannier and GATA4 function as cardiogenic factors in Drosophila.
abstract: The regulation of cardiac gene expression by GATA zinc finger transcription factors is well documented in vertebrates. However, genetic studies in mice have failed to demonstrate a function for these proteins in cardiomyocyte specification. In Drosophila, the existence of a cardiogenic GATA factor has been implicated through the analysis of a cardial cell enhancer of the muscle differentiation gene D-mef2. We show that the GATA gene pannier is expressed in the dorsal mesoderm and required for cardial cell formation while repressing a pericardial cell fate. Ectopic expression of Pannier results in cardial cell overproduction, while co-expression of Pannier and the homeodomain protein Tinman synergistically activate cardiac gene expression and induce cardial cells. The related GATA4 protein of mice likewise functions as a cardiogenic factor in Drosophila, demonstrating an evolutionarily conserved function between Pannier and GATA4 in heart development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gajewski
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fossett
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Molkentin
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Schulz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D050991:GATA4 Transcription Factor; D015870:Gene Expression; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016335:Zinc Fingers
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D050991:GATA4 Transcription Factor; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; C109259:pnr protein, Drosophila; C102933:tin protein, Drosophila