title: Pax6-dependent, but β-catenin-independent, function of Bcl9 proteins in mouse lens development.
abstract: Bcl9 and Bcl9l (Bcl9/9l) encode Wnt signaling components that mediate the interaction between β-catenin and Pygopus (Pygo) via two evolutionarily conserved domains, HD1 and HD2, respectively. We generated mouse strains lacking these domains to probe the β-catenin-dependent and β-catenin-independent roles of Bcl9/9l and Pygo during mouse development. While lens development is critically dependent on the presence of the HD1 domain, it is not affected by the lack of the HD2 domain, indicating that Bcl9/9l act in this context in a β-catenin-independent manner. Furthermore, we uncover a new regulatory circuit in which Pax6, the master regulator of eye development, directly activates Bcl9/9l transcription.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland;
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cantù
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland;
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zimmerli
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland;
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hausmann
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland;
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Valenta
authors.affiliation: Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, School of Life Sciences, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moor
authors.affiliation: Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, School of Life Sciences, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aguet
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; basler@imls.uzh.ch.
authors.forename: Konrad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Basler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D055879:Gene Knock-In Techniques; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000196:embryology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000235:genetics; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C111180:BCL9 protein, human; C568071:BCL9L protein, mouse; D005136:Eye Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; C000605730:PAX6 protein, human; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; C000605732:Pax6 protein, mouse; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin; C495570:pygopus 2 protein, mouse
keywords: Bcl9; Pax6; Pygopus; Wnt; lens induction; mouse