The control of thyroid-specific gene expression: what exactly have we learned as yet?
The identification of transcription factors TTF 1 and Pax 8 and the demonstration of their pivotal role in thyroid development and in the control of thyroid-specific gene expression, although representing remarkable openings in our understanding of cell-specific transcription in the thyroid, still leave a lot of open questions. Recent work investigating the development of thyroid-specific gene expression in transgenic mouse models, now reveal that some basic assumptions have to be reconsidered also. Altogether, currently available data indicate that the regulatory machinery undergoes significant changes during thyroid organogenesis and confirm the existence of still unknown factors whose roles appear at least as critical as the ones played by TTF 1 and Pax 8 in the control of specific gene expression.
Christophe
Daniel
D
Institut de Recherche Interdisciplinaire en Biologie Humaine et Moléculaire (IRIBHM), Université Libre de Bruxelles, IBMM, rue Pr. Jeener et Brachet, 12 B-6041 Gosselies, Belgique. dchristo@ulb.ac.be
D000818:Animals; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D000072636:PAX8 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000074482:Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C000614414:Nkx2-1 protein, mouse; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D000072636:PAX8 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; C499496:Pax8 protein, mouse; D000074482:Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors