Ells [10] and targeted expression in those cells is sufficient to 15900046 rescue the mutant phenotype [8], we hypothesize that the basal cell hyperproliferation, the abnormal expression of K6, and the alterations in secondary hair follicle induction in Fatp4 mutants all reflect indirect, non-cell autonomous, responses to the loss of synthesis and release of very long chain fatty acid derivatives from the spinous and granular cells. We hypothesize that very long chain fatty acids synthesized by Fatp4 may provide both metabolic and regulatory functions that help to modulate epidermal homeostasis and differentiation. In summary, we have identified a new mouse model for autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis. The pigskin mutant mice, like most human patients with IPS, have a point mutation in the gene encoding Fatp4. These new mice provide a potential model system in which to study the feasibility of achieving gene therapy in the epidermis using homology-based strategies to correct single base mutations.AcknowledgmentsWe thank Dr. Paul A. Watkins from Kennedy Krieger for the Fatp4 antibody, and Dr. Yasuhide Furuta for the BMP4-lacZ reporter mice.Author ContributionsConceived and designed the experiments: JT MK DR PO. Performed the experiments: JT MK WH JM DB PO. Analyzed the data: JT MK PO. Wrote the paper: JT PO.
The cardiac development program involves a number of transcriptional regulators. One essential organizer of cardiogenesis is the transcription factor GATA-4, which recognises the consensus WGATAR motif, found in many cardiac promoters. Many studies have implicated GATA-4 in heart development processes. For instance, it is involved in the differentiation of progenitors into beating cardiac cells in vitro [1], and in heart tube formation and yolk sac development in vivo [2]. Moreover GATA4 is Lecirelin supplier required for the expression of cardiac structural genes such as troponin, atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and a and b myosin heavy chain (MHC) [3]. Despite the physical association of GATA-4 with several co-factors [3], it is its interaction with the multi-zinc finger protein Friend of GATA 2 (FOG-2) that appears to be crucial for its cardiac function [4]. FOG-2 is a multi-zinc finger protein that, like the related haematopoietic factor FOG-1, operates as a co-factor of GATA proteins. FOG-2 is expressed with GATA-4, -5 and -6 in both the developing and adult heart and the generation of a FOG-2 317318-84-6 deficient mouse demonstrated that it is essential for heart morphogenesis and proper cardiovascular development [5]. The phenotype of FOG-22/2 mice was recapitulated to a large extent by a GATA-4 knock-in animal that expresses a GATA-4 molecule that fails to interact with FOG-2 [4], suggesting that FOG-2 is indispensable for GATA-4 activity. Typically, FOG-2 acts as a repressor of GATA-4-mediated activation but could also be a transcriptional activator depending on the cellular and promotercontext [6]. GATA-4 is functionally involved in cardiac hypertrophy [7] and is required for the hypertrophic response in vivo [8]. FOG-2 is capable of counteracting this effect and protecting cultured cardiac cells against hypertrophy [9]. The mechanism by which FOG-2 modulates GATA-4 activity is yet to be fully elucidated. It is known, however, that FOG-2 interacts functionally with the co-repressor CtBP in Xenopus embryos [10] and in cellular assays [11], but this interaction appears to be dispensable for the cardiac-specific ANF promoter e.Ells [10] and targeted expression in those cells is sufficient to 15900046 rescue the mutant phenotype [8], we hypothesize that the basal cell hyperproliferation, the abnormal expression of K6, and the alterations in secondary hair follicle induction in Fatp4 mutants all reflect indirect, non-cell autonomous, responses to the loss of synthesis and release of very long chain fatty acid derivatives from the spinous and granular cells. We hypothesize that very long chain fatty acids synthesized by Fatp4 may provide both metabolic and regulatory functions that help to modulate epidermal homeostasis and differentiation. In summary, we have identified a new mouse model for autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis. The pigskin mutant mice, like most human patients with IPS, have a point mutation in the gene encoding Fatp4. These new mice provide a potential model system in which to study the feasibility of achieving gene therapy in the epidermis using homology-based strategies to correct single base mutations.AcknowledgmentsWe thank Dr. Paul A. Watkins from Kennedy Krieger for the Fatp4 antibody, and Dr. Yasuhide Furuta for the BMP4-lacZ reporter mice.Author ContributionsConceived and designed the experiments: JT MK DR PO. Performed the experiments: JT MK WH JM DB PO. Analyzed the data: JT MK PO. Wrote the paper: JT PO.
The cardiac development program involves a number of transcriptional regulators. One essential organizer of cardiogenesis is the transcription factor GATA-4, which recognises the consensus WGATAR motif, found in many cardiac promoters. Many studies have implicated GATA-4 in heart development processes. For instance, it is involved in the differentiation of progenitors into beating cardiac cells in vitro [1], and in heart tube formation and yolk sac development in vivo [2]. Moreover GATA4 is required for the expression of cardiac structural genes such as troponin, atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and a and b myosin heavy chain (MHC) [3]. Despite the physical association of GATA-4 with several co-factors [3], it is its interaction with the multi-zinc finger protein Friend of GATA 2 (FOG-2) that appears to be crucial for its cardiac function [4]. FOG-2 is a multi-zinc finger protein that, like the related haematopoietic factor FOG-1, operates as a co-factor of GATA proteins. FOG-2 is expressed with GATA-4, -5 and -6 in both the developing and adult heart and the generation of a FOG-2 deficient mouse demonstrated that it is essential for heart morphogenesis and proper cardiovascular development [5]. The phenotype of FOG-22/2 mice was recapitulated to a large extent by a GATA-4 knock-in animal that expresses a GATA-4 molecule that fails to interact with FOG-2 [4], suggesting that FOG-2 is indispensable for GATA-4 activity. Typically, FOG-2 acts as a repressor of GATA-4-mediated activation but could also be a transcriptional activator depending on the cellular and promotercontext [6]. GATA-4 is functionally involved in cardiac hypertrophy [7] and is required for the hypertrophic response in vivo [8]. FOG-2 is capable of counteracting this effect and protecting cultured cardiac cells against hypertrophy [9]. The mechanism by which FOG-2 modulates GATA-4 activity is yet to be fully elucidated. It is known, however, that FOG-2 interacts functionally with the co-repressor CtBP in Xenopus embryos [10] and in cellular assays [11], but this interaction appears to be dispensable for the cardiac-specific ANF promoter e.