Int. J. Dev. Biol. 48: 623 - 627 (2004)

https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.041887rm

Vol 48, Issue 7

Pbx genes are required in Xenopus lens development

Original Article | Published: 1 September 2004

Richard Morgan*^,1, Jastinder Sohal¹, Mita Paleja¹ and Ruth Pettengell²

¹Department of Basic Medical Sciences, St. George's Hospital Medical School, London, U.K. and ²Department of Cellular and Molecular Sciences, St. George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK.

Abstract

Development of the vertebrate eye is dependent on multiple tissue interactions and distinct sets of transcription factors and signalling molecules. The latter are thought to be FGF8 and BMP4, proteins secreted from the neural plate to induce lens formation in the overlying ectoderm. Here we show that the Pbx transcription factor plays a crucial role in this process, as it is required for FGF8 expression in the neural plate and is thus part of the complex hierarchy of genes involved in lens induction.

Keywords

Pbx, eye development, lens induction, FGF8, BMP, HOX