High impact information on Eya2

• Eya1 expression is largely restricted to flexor tendons, while Eya2 is expressed in the extensor tendons and ligaments of the phalangeal elements of the limb [1].
• Later in limb development, Eya1 and Eya2 expression is associated with cell condensations that form different sets of limb tendons [1].
• These heterodimers appear to control: (1) the remodeling of the POM through activation of Eya2-related apoptosis; (2) the expression of Foxc1 and Pitx2, which play crucial roles in anterior eye segment development; and (3) the growth of the ventral retina [2].
• Moreover, Eya1 and Eya2 expressions in the lens and nasal placode overlap with and depend upon expression of Pax6 [3].
• Eya2 is expressed in neural retina, sclera and optic nerve sheath [3].

Biological context of Eya2

• Eya1 and Eya2, which are closely related, are extensively expressed in cranial placodes, in the branchial arches and CNS and in complementary or overlapping patterns during organogenesis [3].
• The mouse Eya2 gene maps to chromosome 2 in the region syntenic with human chromosome 20q13, and the mouse Eya2 gene maps to chromosome 4 in the region syntenic with human chromosome 1p36 [4].
• Pax3 is essential for skeletal myogenesis and the expression of Six1 and Eya2 [5].
• A vertebrate homolog of eyes absent, designated Eya2, was mapped to Chromosome (Chr) 2 in the mouse and to Chr 20q13.1 in human [6].
• The chicken Eyes absent 2 (Eya2) cDNA was isolated from 14 day embryonic chicken lenses, and a complete open reading frame encoding a 59 kDa protein was elucidated [7].

Anatomical context of Eya2

• Here we show that Eya1 and Eya2, two mouse homologues of Drosophila eya, are expressed initially during limb development in connective tissue precursor cells [1].
• At later stages of development, Eya2 is expressed in the olfactory placode and in a variety of neural crest derivatives [6].
• In the mouse, expression of Eya2 was first detected in 8.5-day embryos in the region of head ectoderm fated to become the forebrain [6].
• Expression of Eya2 in the wing and limb buds is consistent with its proposed role in the patterning of limb connective tissues [7].
• At later stages of development, Eya2 mRNA was detected in neural crest derivatives (dorsal root ganglia, branchial arches and cranial nerve ganglia) [7].

References