title: Zic2 mutation causes holoprosencephaly via disruption of NODAL signalling.
abstract: The ZIC2 transcription factor is one of the genes most commonly mutated in Holoprosencephaly (HPE) probands. Studies in cultured cell lines and mice have shown a loss of ZIC2 function is the pathogenic mechanism but the molecular details of this ZIC2 requirement remain elusive. HPE arises when signals that direct morphological and fate changes in the developing brain and facial primordia are not sent or received. One critical signal is sent from the prechordal plate (PrCP) which develops beneath the ventral forebrain. An intact NODAL signal transduction pathway and functional ZIC2 are both required for PrCP establishment. We now show that ZIC2 acts downstream of the NODAL signal during PrCP development. ZIC2 physically interacts with SMAD2 and SMAD3, the receptor activated proteins that control transcription in a NODAL dependent manner. Together SMAD3 and ZIC2 regulate FOXA2 transcription in cultured cells and Zic2 also controls the foxA2 expression during Xenopus development. Variant forms of the ZIC2 protein, associated with HPE in man or mouse, are deficient in their ability to influence SMAD-dependent transcription. These findings reveal a new mechanism of NODAL signal transduction in the mammalian node and provide the first molecular explanation of how ZIC2 loss-of-function precipitates HPE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Houtmeyers
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Embryologie et Biotechnologie, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Gosselies, Belgium.
authors.forename: Olive
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tchouate Gainkam
authors.affiliation: John Curtin School of Medical Research and Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Hannah A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Glanville-Jones
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Van den Bosch
authors.affiliation: John Curtin School of Medical Research and Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chappell
authors.affiliation: John Curtin School of Medical Research and Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Kristen S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Barratt
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Embryologie et Biotechnologie, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Gosselies, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Souopgui
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tejpar
authors.affiliation: John Curtin School of Medical Research and Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia ruth.arkell@anu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Ruth M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Arkell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D051542:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-beta / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D016142:Holoprosencephaly / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D055457:Nodal Protein / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D051899:Smad2 Protein / Q000235:genetics; D051900:Smad3 Protein / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: C496502:FOXA2 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C526007:NODAL protein, human; D055457:Nodal Protein; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D051899:Smad2 Protein; D051900:Smad3 Protein; D014157:Transcription Factors; C491812:ZIC2 protein, human; D051542:Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 3-beta