Pax genes and eye organogenesis.
Pax6 is a highly conserved gene that controls eye development in all species where it has been tested. In spite of this common 'master control regulator', the eyes of different animals are morphologically very different and it is believed that they have evolved independently multiple times through evolution. Recent works looking at eye development in 'primitive' species offer some explanation as to the surprising amount of conservation in genetic and morphogenetic pathways involved in eye development. These studies not only implicate the Pax genes but also the So/Six gene family in playing a crucial ancestral role in visual system development.
Pichaud
Franck
F
Department of Biology, New York University, New York, New York 10003, USA.
Desplan
Claude
C
D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005123:Eye / Q000196:embryology*; D005136:Eye Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D038081:Organogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D051762:PAX2 Transcription Factor; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000502:physiology; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D051762:PAX2 Transcription Factor; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; C497319:Pax2 protein, mouse; C000605732:Pax6 protein, mouse; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors