title: A cross-species analysis of Satb2 expression suggests deep conservation across vertebrate lineages.
abstract: Mutation of SATB2 causes cleft palate in humans. To understand the role of SATB2 function in palatogenesis, SATB2 analyses in vertebrate model systems will be essential. To facilitate these analyses, we have performed a cross-species comparison of SATB2 structure and function across three vertebrate model systems: mouse, chick, and zebrafish. We find that the SATB2 transcript is highly conserved across human, mouse, chick, and zebrafish, especially within the Satb2 functional domains. Furthermore, our expression analyses demonstrate that SATB2 is likely to have similar functions in vertebrate model organisms and humans during development of the facial processes and secondary palate. Together, these data suggest an evolutionary conserved role for SATB2 during development of the face and palate across vertebrates. Moreover, expression of zebrafish satb2 in the anterior neurocranium supports the utility of the anterior neurocranium as a simplified model of amniote palatogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life Sciences and Dental School, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Michael Smith Building, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom. ksr@mail.utexas.edu
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sheehan-Rooney
authors.forename: Božena
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pálinkášová
authors.forename: Johann K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Eberhart
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Dixon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D000882:Haplorhini / Q000196:embryology; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D036961:Matrix Attachment Region Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000196:embryology*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology
chemical_list: D036961:Matrix Attachment Region Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors