The Spalt family transcription factor Sall3 regulates the development of cone photoreceptors and retinal horizontal interneurons.

ABSTRACT: The mammalian retina is a tractable model system for analyzing transcriptional networks that guide neural development. Spalt family zinc-finger transcription factors play a crucial role in photoreceptor specification in Drosophila, but their role in mammalian retinal development has not been investigated. In this study, we show that that the spalt homolog Sall3 is prominently expressed in developing cone photoreceptors and horizontal interneurons of the mouse retina and in a subset of cone bipolar cells. We find that Sall3 is both necessary and sufficient to activate the expression of multiple cone-specific genes, and that Sall3 protein is selectively bound to the promoter regions of these genes. Notably, Sall3 shows more prominent expression in short wavelength-sensitive cones than in med

SUBMITTER: de Melo J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3091496 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature