Skip Navigation


Human Molecular Genetics Advance Access originally published online on January 31, 2006
Human Molecular Genetics 2006 15(6):905-919; doi:10.1093/hmg/ddl008
This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
15/6/905    most recent
ddl008v1
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (19)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Berry, F. B.
Right arrow Articles by Walter, M. A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Berry, F. B.
Right arrow Articles by Walter, M. A.
Social Bookmarking
 Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© The Author 2006. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Functional interactions between FOXC1 and PITX2 underlie the sensitivity to FOXC1 gene dose in Axenfeld–Rieger syndrome and anterior segment dysgenesis

Fred B. Berry1,*,{dagger}, Matthew A. Lines2,{dagger}, J. Martin Oas3, Tim Footz1, D. Alan Underhill2, Philip J. Gage3 and Michael A. Walter1,2

1Department of Ophthalmology and 2Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2H7 and 3Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105, USA

* To whom correspondence be addressed. Tel: +1 7804923028; Fax: +1 7804926934; Email: fberry{at}ualberta.ca

Received December 19, 2005; Accepted January 27, 2006

Axenfeld–Rieger ocular dysgenesis is associated with mutations of the human PITX2 and FOXC1 genes, which encode transcription factors of the homeodomain and forkhead types, respectively. We have identified a functional link between FOXC1 and PITX2 which we propose underpins the similar Axenfeld–Rieger phenotype caused by mutations of these genes. FOXC1 and PITX2A physically interact, and this interaction requires crucial functional domains on both proteins: the C-terminal activation domain of FOXC1 and the homeodomain of PITX2. Immunofluorescence further shows PITX2A and FOXC1 to be colocalized within a common nuclear subcompartment. Furthermore, PITX2A can function as a negative regulator of FOXC1 transactivity. This work ties both proteins into a common pathway and offers an explanation of why increased FOXC1 gene dosage produces a phenotype resembling that of PITX2 deletions and mutations. Ocular phenotypes arise despite the deregulated expression of FOXC1-target genes through mutations in FOXC1 or PITX2. Ultimately, PITX2 loss of function mutations have a compound effect: the reduced expression of PITX2-target genes coupled with the extensive activation of FOXC1-regulated targets. Our findings indicate that the functional interaction between FOXC1 and PITX2A underlies the sensitivity to FOXC1 gene dosage in Axenfeld–Rieger syndrome and related anterior segment dysgeneses.


{dagger} The authors wish it to be known that, in their opinion, the first two authors should be regarded as joint First Authors.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
IOVSHome page
R. G. Picciani, A. Diaz, R. K. Lee, and S. K. Bhattacharya
Potential for Transcriptional Upregulation of Cochlin in Glaucomatous Trabecular Meshwork: A Combinatorial Bioinformatic and Biochemical Analytical Approach
Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., July 1, 2009; 50(7): 3106 - 3111.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
IOVSHome page
T. Footz, F. Idrees, M. Acharya, K. Kozlowski, and M. A. Walter
Analysis of Mutations of the PITX2 Transcription Factor Found in Patients with Axenfeld-Rieger Syndrome
Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., June 1, 2009; 50(6): 2599 - 2606.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Hum Mol GenetHome page
S. R. Venugopalan, M. A. Amen, J. Wang, L. Wong, A. C. Cavender, R. N. D'Souza, M. Akerlund, S. L. Brody, T. A. Hjalt, and B. A. Amendt
Novel expression and transcriptional regulation of FoxJ1 during oro-facial morphogenesis
Hum. Mol. Genet., December 1, 2008; 17(23): 3643 - 3654.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
IOVSHome page
L. Huang, J. Chi, F. B. Berry, T. K. Footz, M. W. Sharp, and M. A. Walter
Human p32 Is a Novel FOXC1-Interacting Protein That Regulates FOXC1 Transcriptional Activity in Ocular Cells
Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., December 1, 2008; 49(12): 5243 - 5249.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Nucleic Acids ResHome page
M. Amen, H. M. Espinoza, C. Cox, X. Liang, J. Wang, T. M. E. Link, R. G. Brennan, J. F. Martin, and B. A. Amendt
Chromatin-associated HMG-17 is a major regulator of homeodomain transcription factor activity modulated by Wnt/{beta}-catenin signaling
Nucleic Acids Res., February 2, 2008; 36(2): 462 - 476.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
IOVSHome page
M. H. Strungaru, I. Dinu, and M. A. Walter
Genotype-Phenotype Correlations in Axenfeld-Rieger Malformation and Glaucoma Patients with FOXC1 and PITX2 Mutations
Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., January 1, 2007; 48(1): 228 - 237.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
IOVSHome page
N. Weisschuh, P. Dressler, F. Schuettauf, C. Wolf, B. Wissinger, and E. Gramer
Novel Mutations of FOXC1 and PITX2 in Patients with Axenfeld-Rieger Malformations.
Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., September 1, 2006; 47(9): 3846 - 3852.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]



Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.