Disease relevance of Mrg1

• Meis2, a novel mouse Pbx-related homeobox gene induced by retinoic acid during differentiation of P19 embryonal carcinoma cells [1].
• The predicted protein sequences exhibit approximately 85% identity with the Pbx-related Meis1 homeobox gene products, which are involved in myeloid leukemia in BXH-2 mice, and one of the Stra10 isoforms corresponds to the recently published Meis2 sequence (Nakamura et al. [1996] Oncogene 13:2235-2242) [1].

High impact information on Mrg1

• Here we show that the Meis1 and Meis2 homeoproteins are direct regulators of Pax6 expression in prospective lens ectoderm [2].
• Our data also suggest that the Hox cofactor Meis-2 can substitute for Meis-1 function [3].
• Instead of being expressed in two alternate rhombomeres (r3 and r5), Krox20 is expressed in a single broad domain, correlating with an abnormal expansion of the r2-r3 marker Meis2 [4].
• Using this approach, the homeobox gene Meis2 was found highly expressed in the lateral ganglionic eminence and developing striatum [5].
• Since Meis2 has recently been shown to be upregulated by retinoic acid in P19 EC cells (Oulad-Abdelghani, M., Chazaud, C., Bouillet, P., Sapin, V., Chambon, P. and Dollé, P. (1997) Dev. Dyn. 210, 173-183), we examined a potential role for retinoids in striatal development [5].

Biological context of Mrg1

• We have isolated the Kn-related gene Meis2 in mouse, which labels the lateral somitic compartment and its derivatives during early mouse embryogenesis and later becomes a marker for the dorso-ectodermal region overlying cells of the paraxial mesoderm [6].

Anatomical context of Mrg1

• This is associated with deficient expression of important limb determinants Tbx5, Meis2, and dHand needed to establish forelimb bud initiation, proximal identity, and the zone of polarizing activity (ZPA), respectively [7].
• Meis2 is also highly expressed in specific areas of the developing central nervous system from embryonic day 9 (e9) onward [6].
• By in situ hybridization analysis, we show that the Meis2 gene displays spatially restricted expression patterns in the developing nervous system, limbs, face, and in various viscera [1].
• We have studied the expression of these genes in the mouse telencephalon and found that Meis1 and Meis2 display region-specific patterns of expression from embryonic day (E)10.5 until birth, defining distinct subterritories in the developing telencephalon [8].

Associations of Mrg1 with chemical compounds

• This analysis identified transcripts for six HOX genes (A5, A9, B6, B7, C6 and C8) and two more TALE cofactors (PREP2 and Meis2) [9].

Other interactions of Mrg1

• Our findings indicate the existence of an early phase of RA signaling acting upstream of Tbx5, Meis2, and dHand, followed by a late phase of RA signaling needed to expand AER structure fully along the distal ectoderm [7].
• We report the cDNA cloning, partial genomic organization, and expression pattern of Stra10, a novel retinoic acid-inducible gene in P19 embryonal carcinoma cells [1].
• The Meis2 homeodomain is identical to that of Meis1, and is most closely related to those of the Pbx/TGIF homeobox gene products [1].

References