Evc is a positive mediator of Ihh-regulated bone growth that localises at the base of chondrocyte cilia.
EVC is a novel protein mutated in the human chondroectodermal dysplasia Ellis-van Creveld syndrome (EvC; OMIM: 225500). We have inactivated Evc in the mouse and show that Evc(-/-) mice develop an EvC-like syndrome, including short ribs, short limbs and dental abnormalities. lacZ driven by the Evc promoter revealed that Evc is expressed in the developing bones and the orofacial region. Antibodies developed against Evc locate the protein at the base of the primary cilium. The growth plate of Evc(-/-) mice shows delayed bone collar formation and advanced maturation of chondrocytes. Indian hedgehog (Ihh) is expressed normally in the growth plates of Evc(-/-) mice, but expression of the Ihh downstream genes Ptch1 and Gli1 was markedly decreased. Recent studies have shown that Smo localises to primary cilia and that Gli3 processing is defective in intraflagellar transport mutants. In vitro studies using Evc(-/-) cells demonstrate that the defect lies downstream of Smo. Chondrocyte cilia are present in Evc(-/-) mice and Gli3 processing appears normal by western blot analysis. We conclude that Evc is an intracellular component of the hedgehog signal transduction pathway that is required for normal transcriptional activation of Ihh target genes.
Institute of Human Genetics, Newcastle University, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK. vlruiz@iib.uam.es
Victor L
VL
Ruiz-Perez
Helen J
HJ
Blair
M Elena
ME
Rodriguez-Andres
Maria Jose
MJ
Blanco
Amy
A
Wilson
Yu-Ning
YN
Liu
Colin
C
Miles
Heiko
H
Peters
Judith A
JA
Goodship
D000818:Animals; D001846:Bone Development / Q000235:genetics*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000196:embryology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020219:Chondrogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D002923:Cilia / Q000378:metabolism*; D004613:Ellis-Van Creveld Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D005145:Face / Q000196:embryology; D005260:Female; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D000074290:Zinc Finger Protein Gli3
C523527:Evc protein, mouse; C465571:Gli3 protein, mouse; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D051741:Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D000074290:Zinc Finger Protein Gli3; C514061:ihh protein, mouse