Identification of known and novel pancreas genes expressed downstream of Nkx2.2 during development.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The homeodomain containing transcription factor Nkx2.2 is essential for the differentiation of pancreatic endocrine cells. Deletion of Nkx2.2 in mice leads to misspecification of islet cell types; insulin-expressing beta cells and glucagon-expressing alpha cells are replaced by ghrelin-expressing cells. Additional studies have suggested that Nkx2.2 functions both as a transcriptional repressor and activator to regulate islet cell formation and function. To identify genes that are potentially regulated by Nkx2.2 during the major wave of endocrine and exocrine cell differentiation, we assessed gene expression changes that occur in the absence of Nkx2.2 at the onset of the secondary transition in the developing pancreas.

Results

Microarray analysis identified 80 gene

SUBMITTER: Anderson KR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2799404 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature