Extraocular Muscle Morphogenesis and Gene Expression Are Regulated by<i>Pitx2</i>Gene Dose

Abstract

Pitx2 gene dose regulates both morphogenesis and gene expression in developing extraocular muscles. The expression of key muscle-specific transcription factor genes is regulated by Pitx2 gene dose, suggesting that sufficient levels of PITX2 protein are essential for early initiation of the myogenic regulatory cascade in extraocular muscles. These results document the first ocular tissue affected by Pitx2 gene dose in a model organism, where the underlying mechanisms can be analyzed, and provide a paradigm for future experiments designed to elucidate additional effects of Pitx2 gene dose during eye development.