Regulation of retinal homeobox gene transcription by cooperative activity among cis-elements.

ABSTRACT: The retinal homeobox (Rx/rax) gene is essential for the development of the eye. Rax is among the earliest genes expressed during eye development, beginning in the prospective eye fields in the anterior neural plate. Additionally Rax expression persists in retinal progenitor cells and in differentiated photoreceptors. We have isolated and characterized a 2.8 kb genomic DNA fragment that regulates expression of Rax in the developing and maturing retina. We have discovered and characterized cis-acting elements that function to specifically control spatial and temporal Rax expression during retinal development. We have found that the regulation of Rax2A promoter activity requires cooperative interactions between positive and negative regulatory elements. Further, a highly conserved genomic ele

SUBMITTER: Martinez-de Luna RI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2942993 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature