Examining the cardiac NK-2 genes in early heart development.
The cardiac NK-2 transcription factors are the vertebrate relatives of the Drosophila tinman gene. Without the Drosophila tinman gene, fruit flies fail to form their heart ("dorsal vessel"), and mutations or altered expression of cardiac NK-2 genes may lead to abnormal heart formation in vertebrates. Although the cardiac NK-2 gene NKX2-5 is recognized as an important factor in cases of human congenital heart disease and heart development in vertebrates, the roles of the other cardiac NK-2 genes are less clear. This report reviews what is known about the cardiac NK-2 genes in cardiac development, comparing studies in several different model systems.
Bartlett
Heather
H
Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Bowen Science Building, 51 Newton Road, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
Veenstra
Gert Jan C
GJ
Weeks
Daniel L
DL
D000818:Animals; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics; D005809:Genes, Regulator / Q000235:genetics; D006321:Heart / Q000196:embryology*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000235:genetics*; D000072576:Homeobox Protein Nkx-2.5; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000235:genetics
D000072576:Homeobox Protein Nkx-2.5; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C095552:NKX2-5 protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors