Homeobox protein SIX3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SIX3 gene. [5] [6] [7]
Homeobox protein SIX3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SIX3 gene. [5] [6] [7]
The SIX homeobox 3 (SIX3) gene is crucial in embryonic development by providing necessary instructions for the formation of the forebrain and eye development. SIX3 is a transcription factor that binds to specific DNA sequences, controlling whether the gene is active or inactive. Activity of the SIX3 gene represses Wnt1 gene activity which ensures development of the forebrain and establishes the proper anterior posterior identity in the mammalian brain. By blocking Wnt1 activity, SIX3 is able to prevent abnormal expansion of the posterior portion of the brain into the anterior brain area.
During retinal development, SIX3 has been proven to hold a key responsibility in the activation of Pax6, the master regulator of eye development. Furthermore, SIX3 assumes its activity in the PLE (presumptive lens ectoderm), the region in which the lens is expected to develop. If its presence is removed from this region, the lens fails to thicken and construct itself to its proper morphological state. Also, SIX3 plays a strategic role in the activation of SOX2.
SIX3 has also been proven to play a role in repression of selected members of the Wnt family. In retinal development, SIX3 is responsible for the repression of Wnt8b. Also, in forebrain development, SIX3 is responsible for the repression of Wnt1 and activation of SHH, Sonic Hedgehog gene.
Mutations in SIX3 are the cause of a severe brain malformation, called holoprosencephaly type 2 (HPE2). In HPE2, the brain fails to separate into two hemispheres during early embryonic development, leading to eye and brain malformations, which result in serious facial abnormalities. [6]
A mutant zebrafish knockout model has been developed, in which the anterior part of the head was missing due to the atypical increase of Wnt1 activity. When injected with SIX3, these zebrafish embryos were able to successfully develop a normal forebrain. [8] [9] When SIX3 was turned off in mice, it resulted in a lack of retina formation due to excessive expression of Wnt8b in the region where the forebrain normally develops. [10] Both of these studies demonstrate the importance of SIX3 activity in brain and eye development.
SIX3 has been shown to interact with TLE1 [11] and Neuron-derived orphan receptor 1. [12] [13]
Holoprosencephaly (HPE) is a cephalic disorder in which the prosencephalon fails to develop into two hemispheres, typically occurring between the 18th and 28th day of gestation. Normally, the forebrain is formed and the face begins to develop in the fifth and sixth weeks of human pregnancy. The condition also occurs in other species.
The nuclear receptor 4A3 (NR4A3) also known as neuron-derived orphan receptor 1 (NOR1) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the NR4A3 gene. NR4A3 is a member of the nuclear receptor family of intracellular transcription factors.
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Transducin-like enhancer protein 1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TLE1 gene.
Homeobox protein TGIF1 is a protein that, in humans, is encoded by the TGIF1 gene. Alternative splicing has been observed at this locus and eight variants, encoding four distinct isoforms, are described.
Hematopoietically-expressed homeobox protein HHEX is a protein that in humans is encoded by the HHEX gene and also known as Proline Rich Homeodomain protein PRH.
Homeobox protein SIX1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SIX1 gene.
Homeobox protein DLX-5 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the distal-less homeobox 5 gene, or DLX5 gene. DLX5 is a member of DLX gene family.
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Transducin-like enhancer protein 3 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TLE3 gene.
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Homeobox protein SIX4 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SIX4 gene.
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XK aprosencephaly is an extremely rare congenital disorder characterized by the absence of the embryonic forebrain. Because the prosencephalon gives way to the cerebral cortex, survival with aprosencephaly is not possible outside utero. The external symptoms are similar to holoprosencephaly, a related disorder, including a smaller than normal head (microcephaly), small eyeballs (microphthalmia), a small mouth (microstomia), anal atresia, and abnormalities of the external genitalia, radius, nostrils, and pharynx (throat).
Guillermo Oliver is a Uruguayan-American research scientist. He is currently the Thomas D. Spies Professor of Lymphatic Metabolism at Northwestern University, and director of the Center for Vascular and Developmental Biology at the Feinberg Cardiovascular Research Institute. Oliver is an elected member of both the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the Academia de Ciencias de América Latina.