title: Identification of cis-element regulating expression of the mouse Fgf10 gene during inner ear development.
abstract: Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling is crucial for the induction and growth of the ear, a sensory organ that involves intimate tissue interactions. Here, we report the abnormality of Fgf10 null ear and the identification of a cis-regulatory element directing otic expression of Fgf10. In Fgf10 null inner ears, we found that the initial development of semicircular, vestibular, and cochlear divisions is roughly normal, after which there are abnormalities of semicircular canal/cristae and vestibular development. The mutant semicircular disks remain without canal formation by the perinatal stage. To elucidate regulation of the Fgf10 expression during inner ear development, we isolated a 6.6-kb fragment of its 5'-upstream region and examined its transcriptional activity with transgenic mice, using a lacZ-reporter system. From comparison of the mouse sequences of the 6.6-kb fragment with corresponding sequences of the human and chicken Fgf10, we identified a 0.4-kb enhancer sequence that drives Fgf10 expression in the developing inner ear. The enhancer sequences have motifs for many homeodomain-containing proteins (e.g., Prx, Hox, Nkx), in addition to POU-domain factors (e.g., Brn3), zinc-finger transcription factors (e.g., GATA-binding factors), TCF/LEF-1, and a SMAD-interacting protein. Thus, FGF10 signaling is dispensable for specification of otic compartment identity but is required for hollowing the semicircular disk. Furthermore, the analysis of a putative inner ear enhancer of Fgf10 has disclosed a complicated regulation of Fgf10 during inner ear development by numerous transcription factors and signaling pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Engineering, University of Tokushima, 2-1 Minami-Jyosanjima-cho, Tokushima City 770-8506, Japan. hohuchi@bio.tokushima-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hideyo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohuchi
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yasue
authors.forename: Katsuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: Shunsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sasaoka
authors.forename: Sayuri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tomonari
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takagi
authors.forename: Mitsuo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Itakura
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moriyama
authors.forename: Sumihare
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noji
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nohno
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology*; D051526:Fibroblast Growth Factor 10; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: C496463:FGF10 protein, human; C496464:Fgf10 protein, mouse; D051526:Fibroblast Growth Factor 10; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors