Genome-scale study of transcription factor expression in the branching mouse lung.
BACKGROUND
Mammalian lung development consists of a series of precisely choreographed events that drive the progression from simple lung buds to the elaborately branched organ that fulfills the vital function of gas exchange. Strict transcriptional control is essential for lung development. Among the large number of transcription factors encoded in the mouse genome, only a small portion of them are known to be expressed and function in the developing lung. Thus a systematic investigation of transcription factors expressed in the lung is warranted.


RESULTS
To enrich for genes that may be responsible for regional growth and patterning, we performed a screen using RNA in situ hybridization to identify genes that show restricted expression patterns in the embryonic lung. We focused on the pseudoglandular stage during which the lung undergoes branching morphogenesis, a cardinal event of lung development. Using a genome-scale probe set that represents over 90% of the transcription factors encoded in the mouse genome, we identified 62 transcription factor genes with localized expression in the epithelium, mesenchyme, or both. Many of these genes have not been previously implicated in lung development.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings provide new starting points for the elucidation of the transcriptional circuitry that controls lung development.
Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA.
John C
JC
Herriges
Lan
L
Yi
Elizabeth A
EA
Hines
Julie F
JF
Harvey
Guoliang
G
Xu
Paul A
PA
Gray
Qiufu
Q
Ma
Xin
X
Sun
D000818:Animals; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D016678:Genome / Q000235:genetics; D057166:High-Throughput Screening Assays; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D014157:Transcription Factors