Tbx3, the ulnar-mammary syndrome gene, and Tbx2 interact in mammary gland development through a p19Arf/p53-independent pathway.
The closely related T-box genes Tbx2 and Tbx3 are both expressed in the developing mammary glands of mouse embryos and both have been implicated in mammary carcinogenesis. Tbx3 is essential for induction of the mammary placodes in mice. In humans, mutations in TBX3 are responsible for ulnar-mammary syndrome. Here, we show a haploinsufficiency effect of Tbx3 on maintenance of the mammary placodes and on the extent of branching of the ductal tree in mice. Loss or heterozygosity for Tbx2, on the other hand, has no effect on either induction or maintenance of the placodes, although a small effect was seen on branching morphogenesis in adult heterozygotes. However, the deficiency in maintenance of the mammary placodes in Tbx2, Tbx3 double heterozygous mice is more marked than in Tbx3 single heterozygotes, indicating a genetic interaction between the two genes. In spite of a large body of evidence implicating these genes in cell cycle control through the p19(Arf)/p53 pathways, we find no evidence for involvement of these pathways either in embryonic lethality of homozygous mutants or in the mammary gland phenotype of Tbx3 heterozygous mice.
Jerome-Majewska
Loydie A
LA
Department of Genetics and Development, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Jenkins
Gerard P
GP
Ernstoff
Elana
E
Zindy
Frederique
F
Sherr
Charles J
CJ
Papaioannou
Virginia E
VE
D000818:Animals; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D017931:DNA Primers; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005838:Genotype; D006652:Histological Techniques; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D017931:DNA Primers; C097348:T-Box Domain Protein 2; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; C491460:Tbx3 protein, mouse