Journal: Cell & Bioscience

Article Title: NOTCH2NLC GGC repeat expansions cause retinal neurodegeneration in neuronal intranuclear inclusion disease mouse model

doi: 10.1186/s13578-026-01542-x

Figure Lengend Snippet: Expression of NOTCH2NLC-polyG in the retina of NIID mice. A – F Co-immunostaining on retinas of NIID and control mice using anti-Flag (indicating NOTCH2NLC-polyG) with anti-VSX2 ( A ), anti-PAX6 ( B ), anti-RBPMS ( C ), anti-Rhodopsin ( D ), anti-Arrestin C ( E ), or anti-RPE65 ( F ). Red: VSX2 ( A ), PAX6 ( B ), RBPMS ( C ), Rhodopsin ( D ), Arrestin C ( E ) or RPE65 ( F ); Green: NOTCH2NLC-polyG; Blue: DAPI. Scale bar = 50 μm. The yellow dashed box indicates the region shown at higher magnification. G The percentage of cells co-expressing PolyG and VSX2, PAX6 or RBPMS. H The quantification of the number of VSX2-, PAX6-, and RBPMS-positive cells in NIID and control mice. Data are presented as mean ± SEM. N = 6 per group, ** P = 0.0012 (PAX6), ** P = 0.0021 (RBPMS), ns = no significance, two-tailed t-test. I Transmission electron microscopy images of intranuclear inclusions in the INL and RGC layer of the retinas of NIID mice. The yellow dashed box indicates the region shown at higher magnification. The yellow arrows indicate the round-shaped, filamentous, non-membranous intranuclear inclusions. Scale bar = 1 μm

Article Snippet: Primary antibodies used in this study include: RBPMS (Thermo Fisher Scientific, PA5-31231, 1/300), VSX2 (Proteintech, 25825-1-AP, 1/300), PAX6 (Abcam, ab195045, 1/300), Rhodopsin (Proteintech, 30438-1-AP, 1/200), Arrestin C (Proteintech, 85067-1-AP, 1/200), Flag (Sigma, F1804, 1/300), Flag (Thermo Fisher Scientific, PA5-31231, 1/300), Tuj1 (Sigma, MAB5564, 1/300), GFAP (Cell Signaling Technology, 3670S, 1/300), IBA1 (Wako, 019-19741, 1/300), GFP (Thermo Fisher Scientific, MA5-15256, 1/300).

Techniques: Expressing, Immunostaining, Control, Two Tailed Test, Transmission Assay, Electron Microscopy

Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: Molecular profiling of retinal pigment epithelial cell differentiation for therapeutic use

doi: 10.1101/2021.01.31.429014

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A) UMAP representation of scRNA-seq at D7 (1,811 cells), D14 (1,872 cells), and D30 (1,852 cells). Clusters were grouped into seven primary categories: Lateral Neural Fold-like (LatNeEp), Pre-Pla-codal-like (PrePlac), Cranial Neural Crest-like (CrNeCr), Mesenchymal cells (MesCh), Retinal Progenitor (RetProg), Early RPE (EarlyRPE), and Intermediate RPE (MidRPE). (B) Enriched gene expression heatmap for hESC-RPE cell types. Heatmap clusters are annotated by differentiation day, primary group and secondary cluster. (C) Plots showing the relative gene expression of neural tube patterning markers ISL1, PAX6, DLX5 , and RAX in D7 (top) and D14 (bottom) cells across the principal variation axis (pseudospace). Pseudospace axis was found by fitting a principal curve. The colored bar on the x-axis indicates the group assignment of single cells. (D) Schematic illustration summarizing the territories emerging in the early rostral embryo (left) and the gene expression patter of key genes (right). (E) Pseudotime trajectory of D30 RPE cells. (F) Progenitor ( SOX2, RAX, VSX2 , and SIX3, PAX6 ), early RPE ( TMEFF2, MITF , and TYRP1 ) and late RPE ( RLBP1, RPE65, BEST1 , and TTR ) gene expression along a pseudotime trajectory. (G) Schematic of the proposed relationship among the various secondary clusters during pigmentation induction. Edges indicate putative relationships between cell types identified at different time points. See also and Table S2.

Article Snippet: Taq-polymerase together with Taqman probes (ThermoFisher Scientific) for MITF (Hs01117294_ m1), BEST1 (Hs00188249_m1), RPE65 (Hs01071462_ m1), TYR (Hs00165976_m1), SIX6 (HS00201310_m1), PAX6 (HS01088114_m1), VSX2 (HS01584046_m1), RAX (HS00429459_m1), SOX2 (HS04234836_s1), and GAP-DH (4333764F) were used.

Techniques: Gene Expression

Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: Molecular profiling of retinal pigment epithelial cell differentiation for therapeutic use

doi: 10.1101/2021.01.31.429014

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A-B) Heatmap showing the top enriched genes of each cell type cluster at D7 (A) and D14 (B). (C) UMAP embedding (same as (F)) overlayed with the expression of Wnt antagonists HESX1, FEZF1 , and FRZB at D7. (D) UMAP representation of D7 and D14 cell populations analyzed without the removal of cell cycle genes. Cells are colored by cell group, differentiation day, and inferred cell cycle phase. (E) RNA velocity analysis of retinal progenitors at D7 and D14. (F) D7 and D14 cell populations projected on a shared low dimensional subspace using canonical correlation analysis in Seurat (see Methods). (G) UMAP embedding overlayed with the gene expression of key cell type markers for Inner Ear (InnEar), Lateral Fold (LatFold), Lens Placode (LensPlac) and Mesenchymal cells (MesCh)/Retinal Progenitor (RetProg) from D7 to D14. Expression of neural crest inner ear ( FOXC1 and OTOGL ), and lateral fold ( DLX5 and DLX6 ) decreases from D7 to D14. (H) Transcription factor (TF) activity scores for SOX2, RAX, VSX2, OTX2 , and MITF obtained by SCENIC analysis (top) and the gene expression of the top 4 inferred targets genes of each TF at D30 of differentiation.

Article Snippet: Taq-polymerase together with Taqman probes (ThermoFisher Scientific) for MITF (Hs01117294_ m1), BEST1 (Hs00188249_m1), RPE65 (Hs01071462_ m1), TYR (Hs00165976_m1), SIX6 (HS00201310_m1), PAX6 (HS01088114_m1), VSX2 (HS01584046_m1), RAX (HS00429459_m1), SOX2 (HS04234836_s1), and GAP-DH (4333764F) were used.

Techniques: Expressing, Gene Expression, Activity Assay

Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: Molecular profiling of retinal pigment epithelial cell differentiation for therapeutic use

doi: 10.1101/2021.01.31.429014

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A-B) Genes ranked by their correlation with two signature scores: an RPE signature (A) and a neural signature (B). Signature scores were computed using the top enriched genes in the RPE cluster and of the retinal progenitor and neural clusters. (C) Bar graph showing the top 20 genes ranked by the average (negative) correlation of their expression with the RPE and neural signatures (cf. A,B). Genes are colored by the annotated protein cellular localization. (D) Brightfield and immunofluorescence stainings of D30 showing co-expression of VSX2, NCAM1 and Ki67. Scale bars: 200μm. (E) Representative FACS plot of the NCAM1-CD140b sorting used to seprated CD140b-High and NCAM1-High populations at hESC-RPE D30. (F) Post-sort pellets of CD140b-High cells and NCAM1-High. (G) RT-qPCR of retinal progenitor ( SIX6, VSX2, RAX, PAX6, SOX2 ) and RPE ( MITF, BEST1, RPE65, TYR ) marker genes in unsorted, CD140b-High and NCAM1-High populations at the moment of sort and at post-sort D30, 35, 40, 45, and 60. (H) Brightfield and immunofluorescence stainings of unsorted, CD140b-High and NCAM1-High populations 30 days after sorting (D60) showing co-expression of CD140b and BEST1 markers. Scale bars: 100μm. (I-J) PEDF secretion (I) and TEER measurements (J) of the unsorted, CD140b-High and CD56-High populations at D60 (30 days post-sorting). (G, I-J) Bars represent mean +/-SEM from three independent experiments. **p < 0.0001 (PEDF Apical, TEER) compared with the Not sorted and NCAM1-High conditions. See also and Table S4.

Article Snippet: Taq-polymerase together with Taqman probes (ThermoFisher Scientific) for MITF (Hs01117294_ m1), BEST1 (Hs00188249_m1), RPE65 (Hs01071462_ m1), TYR (Hs00165976_m1), SIX6 (HS00201310_m1), PAX6 (HS01088114_m1), VSX2 (HS01584046_m1), RAX (HS00429459_m1), SOX2 (HS04234836_s1), and GAP-DH (4333764F) were used.

Techniques: Expressing, Immunofluorescence, Quantitative RT-PCR, Marker

Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: Molecular profiling of retinal pigment epithelial cell differentiation for therapeutic use

doi: 10.1101/2021.01.31.429014

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A) Gene expression of progenitor markers in scRNA-seq hESC-RPE at D30. (B) Camera pictures of hESC-RPE D30 cultures. Scale bars: top 1mm; bottom 100μm. (C) Brightfield and immunofluorescence stainings of hESC-RPE D30 cells showing co-expression of RAX, NCAM1 and Ki67 markers. Scale bars: 200μm. (D) Brightfield images of unsorted, CD140b-High and NCAM1-High populations at D33, D40, D45, and D60 of the differentiation protocol. FACS sorting of the two populations was performed at D30. Scale bars: 100μm; inset 20μm. (E) Graph showing the percentage of positive cells expressing the Ki67 proliferation marker in hESC, unsorted, CD140b-High and NCAM1-High populations at the moment of FACS sorting (D30) and D35, D40, D45, and D60. Bars represent mean +/-SEM from three independent experiments. (F) Brightfield and immunofluorescence images showing expression of VSX2 and NCAM1 in unsorted, CD140b-High and NCAM1-High populations after FACS sorting at differentiation D35, D40, D45, and D60. Scale bars: 200μm.

Article Snippet: Taq-polymerase together with Taqman probes (ThermoFisher Scientific) for MITF (Hs01117294_ m1), BEST1 (Hs00188249_m1), RPE65 (Hs01071462_ m1), TYR (Hs00165976_m1), SIX6 (HS00201310_m1), PAX6 (HS01088114_m1), VSX2 (HS01584046_m1), RAX (HS00429459_m1), SOX2 (HS04234836_s1), and GAP-DH (4333764F) were used.

Techniques: Gene Expression, Immunofluorescence, Expressing, Marker

Journal: bioRxiv

Article Title: Molecular profiling of retinal pigment epithelial cell differentiation for therapeutic use

doi: 10.1101/2021.01.31.429014

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A) Line-plot shwoing the percentage of cells assigned to each primary cell type category throughout the entire differentiation time course. (B) Gene expression heatmap showing a comparison of neural crest (NC), and smooth muscle (SM) populations at D38 to the undifferentiated stem cell control. (C) Line-graph showing the change in the proportion of EMT-RPE (MITF+ACTA2+ RPE) and maturing RPE (MITF+) from hESC-RPE D30 to D60. (D) UMAP representation of MITF and ACTA2 gene expression at D30, D38, D45, and D60. Cells are labeled as MITF+ (maturing RPE), MITF+ACTA2+ (EMT-RPE), or other (non-RPE cell types). (E) Bar graph showing the gene expression differences between EMT-RPE and maturing RPE. EMT-RPE express EMT markers ACTA2, TAGLN , and MYL9 more highly, whereas RPE markers MITF, OTX2 , and SFRP5 are more highly expressed in non-transitioning RPE. (F) CCA integration of 1,749 cells at hESC-RPE D60 from this study with 931 cells at hESC-RPE D60 obtained during a previous experimental replicate from our prior study . (G) Gene expression representation of D60 replicates for mature RPE ( TTR and BEST1 ), differentiating RPE ( MITF ), retinal progenitor ( VSX2 ), cell cycle ( TOP2A ), and EMT-RPE ( ACTA2 ) marker genes. (H) Pearson’s correlation matrix computed using the top 2,000 variable genes among all in vitro cell clusters and labeled according to differentiation day (Day) and cluster group (Group).

Article Snippet: Taq-polymerase together with Taqman probes (ThermoFisher Scientific) for MITF (Hs01117294_ m1), BEST1 (Hs00188249_m1), RPE65 (Hs01071462_ m1), TYR (Hs00165976_m1), SIX6 (HS00201310_m1), PAX6 (HS01088114_m1), VSX2 (HS01584046_m1), RAX (HS00429459_m1), SOX2 (HS04234836_s1), and GAP-DH (4333764F) were used.

Techniques: Gene Expression, Comparison, Control, Labeling, Marker, In Vitro

Journal: PLoS Genetics

Article Title: Vsx2 Controls Eye Organogenesis and Retinal Progenitor Identity Via Homeodomain and Non-Homeodomain Residues Required for High Affinity DNA Binding

doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002924

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A) ClustalW alignment of the homeodomain and adjacent 60 amino acids in select VSX orthologs and the most similar non-VSX proteins in mice. Only the VSX sequences have a discernable CVC domain. The positions of the orJ , R200Q , and R227W mutations are shown. (B) Left panel: EMSA with in vitro translated VSX2, VSX2 [R200Q] , and VSX2 [R227W] proteins and [ 32 ] P-labeled P3 oligo (see for sequence). Top right panel: Extended exposure reveals weak binding by VSX2 [R227W] . Bottom right panel: Western blot of in vitro translated proteins with VSX2 antibody (Lys, control lysate; -, P3 probe only). (C) Schematic shows five putative Vsx2 binding sites (Hx-6 – Hx-10) in the proximal promoter region (∼0.3 kb) of D-Mitf . Carats and dashed line marks the region of PCR amplification in the ChIP assay shown below schematic (primer set 13; ). Arrowhead points to sequence-verified ChIP product. (D) Luciferase assays in P0 primary retinal cells transfected with the indicated expression vectors ( x -axis) and ∼2.2 kb of the D-Mitf promoter region (pGL3P- DMitf ). (E) The Hx-9 site was mutated in pGL3P-m DMitf to eliminate DNA binding at that site. Reporter assays were normalized to empty vector controls (white bars). (F) CAT assays in HEK293 cells transfected with the X4G2CAT reporter and VSX2 variants fused to the LexA DNA binding domain. Gal4-Hsf1 was included to stimulate high basal reporter activity . ** P≤0.01; *** P≤0.001.

Article Snippet: Vsx2 R200Q chimeric mice were generated at inGenious Targeting Laboratory (Stony Brook, NY) and Vsx2 R227W chimeric mice were generated at the University of Utah Gene Targeting and Transgenic Core Facility (See and for details on gene targeting strategy).

Techniques: In Vitro, Labeling, Sequencing, Binding Assay, Western Blot, Control, Amplification, Luciferase, Transfection, Expressing, Plasmid Preparation, Activity Assay

Journal: PLoS Genetics

Article Title: Vsx2 Controls Eye Organogenesis and Retinal Progenitor Identity Via Homeodomain and Non-Homeodomain Residues Required for High Affinity DNA Binding

doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002924

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A–D) Mice homozygous for the orJ , R200Q , and R227W alleles had smaller eyes than wild-type by E11.5. (E–H) At E14.5, overall embryonic development was unaffected in the mutants, but the failure of the mutant eyes to keep pace with the growth of the wild-type eye was evident. Eye growth in the R227W mutant also failed to keep pace with the orJ and R200Q mutants. (I–L) Dissected E17.5 eyes (right eyes rotated 90°) show similar reductions in eye size in orJ and R200Q homozygotes whereas the reduction in eye size of R227W homozygotes was the most severe. (M–P) VSX2 immunohistochemistry in E12.5 retinas. VSX2 protein was not detected in the orJ retina, confirming it as an expression null. VSX2 [R200Q] and VSX2 [R227W] were expressed similarly to VSX2 [wt] , although to a reduced extent in peripheral retina. Dashed lines bound retinas. (Q) ChIP assays with VSX2 antibody reacted with E12.5 native chromatin lysates from wild-type, R200Q , and R227W retinas and amplified using D-Mitf primer set 13 . Arrowhead denotes amplification product. Graph shows quantification results of ChIP-qPCR. Scale bars: 0.5 mm (E11.5); 5 mm (E14.5); 1 mm (E17.5).

Article Snippet: Vsx2 R200Q chimeric mice were generated at inGenious Targeting Laboratory (Stony Brook, NY) and Vsx2 R227W chimeric mice were generated at the University of Utah Gene Targeting and Transgenic Core Facility (See and for details on gene targeting strategy).

Techniques: Mutagenesis, Immunohistochemistry, Expressing, Amplification, ChIP-qPCR

Journal: PLoS Genetics

Article Title: Vsx2 Controls Eye Organogenesis and Retinal Progenitor Identity Via Homeodomain and Non-Homeodomain Residues Required for High Affinity DNA Binding

doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002924

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A–H) Merged images of cryosections showing DAPI staining (blue) and melanogenic pigmentation (white) for each of the indicated genotypes and ages. Arrowheads in H point to aberrant pigmentation in peripheral retina asterisk denotes ectopic periocular mesenchyme (POM) in vitreal cavity. (I–P) Expression patterns of the neuronal differentiation marker class III β-Tubulin (TUBB3). Neurogenesis lagged behind wild-type and to a similar extent in the orJ and R200Q retinas, but did not initiate in the R227W retina. (Q–T) Merged images of cryosections showing DAPI staining (blue) and melanogenic pigmentation (white) for each of the indicated genotypes at E17.5. The R227W retina was aberrantly pigmented, either partially (T (a) ) or completely (T (b) ). Arrowheads in T (a) and T (b) point to aberrant pigmentation in peripheral retina, arrows to central retinal regions, and asterisks to ectopic pigmentation in vitreal cavity. (U–W) Pigmented cells expressing VSX2 [R227W] were detected in pigmented retinal region. L, lens; RPE, retinal pigment epithelium. Scale bars: 100 µm (A–T), 20 µm (U–W).

Article Snippet: Vsx2 R200Q chimeric mice were generated at inGenious Targeting Laboratory (Stony Brook, NY) and Vsx2 R227W chimeric mice were generated at the University of Utah Gene Targeting and Transgenic Core Facility (See and for details on gene targeting strategy).

Techniques: Staining, Expressing, Marker

Journal: PLoS Genetics

Article Title: Vsx2 Controls Eye Organogenesis and Retinal Progenitor Identity Via Homeodomain and Non-Homeodomain Residues Required for High Affinity DNA Binding

doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002924

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A) Wild-type, orJ/+ , R200Q/+ , and R227W/+ eyes were indistinguishable at P0. No significant differences in eye circumferences were detected. (B–E) Merged images of cryosections showing DAPI staining (blue) and melanogenic pigmentation (white) for each of the indicated genotypes at P0. (F–I) Expression of the retinal ganglion cell marker POU4F2 in wild-type or Vsx2 heterozygous retinas. (J) Eye circumference of orJ/R227W heterozygotes was intermediate to orJ and R227W homozygotes. (K–S) Expression of VSX2, CCND1, and TUBB3 in orJ , orJ/R227W , and R227W retinas at P0. VSX2 was detected in the orJ/R227W retina only. CCND1 and TUBB3 were detected in orJ or orJ/R227W retinas but not in R227W pigmented retina. (T) Genotype-phenotype correlation of Vsx2 alleles arranged by retinal phenotype. * P≤0.05 Scale bars: 1 mm (A, J); 100 µm (B–I, K–S).

Article Snippet: Vsx2 R200Q chimeric mice were generated at inGenious Targeting Laboratory (Stony Brook, NY) and Vsx2 R227W chimeric mice were generated at the University of Utah Gene Targeting and Transgenic Core Facility (See and for details on gene targeting strategy).

Techniques: Staining, Expressing, Marker

Journal: PLoS Genetics

Article Title: Vsx2 Controls Eye Organogenesis and Retinal Progenitor Identity Via Homeodomain and Non-Homeodomain Residues Required for High Affinity DNA Binding

doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002924

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A–D) MITF expression at E12.5 for the indicated genotypes. The R227W retina expressed MITF at much higher levels compared to the orJ and R200Q mutants. (D′) Merged images of VSX2 [R227W] (red) and MITF (green) shows overlap in expression. The lack of VSX2 [R227W] expression in the peripheral retina corresponded to the highest levels of MITF. (E–H) OTX expression at E12.5 for the indicated genotypes. OTX expression was highest in the R227W retina. (H′) Merged images of VSX2 [R227W] (red) and OTX (green). Like MITF, OTX expression was highest in regions lacking VSX2 [R227W] . MITF and OTX were also expressed in RPE (outside lower dashed lines). (I–K) Relative mRNA expression levels of pan- Mitf (I), Otx1 and Otx2 (J), and the D- , H- , A- , J- , and B - Mitf isoforms (K) in E12.5 retinas of the indicated genotypes as determined by qRT-PCR. Samples were normalized to the expression level for each transcript in the orJ retina (white bars). * P≤0.05 Scale bar: 50 µm.

Article Snippet: Vsx2 R200Q chimeric mice were generated at inGenious Targeting Laboratory (Stony Brook, NY) and Vsx2 R227W chimeric mice were generated at the University of Utah Gene Targeting and Transgenic Core Facility (See and for details on gene targeting strategy).

Techniques: Expressing, Quantitative RT-PCR

Journal: PLoS Genetics

Article Title: Vsx2 Controls Eye Organogenesis and Retinal Progenitor Identity Via Homeodomain and Non-Homeodomain Residues Required for High Affinity DNA Binding

doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002924

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A–F) Merged images of cryosections showing DAPI staining (blue) and melanogenic pigmentation (white) in P0 orj , R200Q , and R227W mice that were Mitf wild-type ( Mitf +/+ ; A–C) and mi heterozygous ( Mitf mi/+ ; D–F). Insets show whole eyes. The retina in C was completely transformed into pigmented tissue (bounded by dashed line) and ectopic POM was partially pigmented (asterisk). Eye size and retinal histology were restored to a comparable degree in all Vsx2 , mi compound mutants (D–F). Also notable in the R227W , mi compound mutant was the lack of POM in the vitreal chamber (asterisk in F). (G–L) TUBB3 staining at P0. In all cases, lamination patterns were restored in the compound mutants, indicating robust neurogenesis. Retinal tissue in I is bounded by the dashed lines. (M) The reduced eye size in the R227W mutant was partially rescued in the R227W ; Mitf mi/+ mutant at E12.5. (N) The expression of TUBB3 was detected in the R227W ; Mitf mi/+ retina at E13.5. (O) Mitf and Otx1 transcript levels were much lower in the R227W ; Mitf mi/+ retina (black bars) compared to the R227W mutant (white bars). (P) pan- Mitf transcript level in orJ; Mitf mi/+ retina was not lower than that in orJ retina. * P≤0.05; *** P≤0.001 Scale bars: 100 µm (A–F); 1 mm (insets); 50 µm (G–L); 0.5 mm (M); 100 µm (N).

Article Snippet: Vsx2 R200Q chimeric mice were generated at inGenious Targeting Laboratory (Stony Brook, NY) and Vsx2 R227W chimeric mice were generated at the University of Utah Gene Targeting and Transgenic Core Facility (See and for details on gene targeting strategy).

Techniques: Staining, Transformation Assay, Mutagenesis, Expressing

Journal: PLoS Genetics

Article Title: Vsx2 Controls Eye Organogenesis and Retinal Progenitor Identity Via Homeodomain and Non-Homeodomain Residues Required for High Affinity DNA Binding

doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002924

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A) p27 mRNA expression in E12.5 retinas of the indicated genotypes as determined by qRT-PCR. Samples were normalized to orJ . Only the R227W retina was significantly different. (B) Luciferase activities from HEK293 cells transfected with the indicated expression vectors ( x- axes) and ∼1.1 kb of the p27 promoter region (pGL3B- p27 ). Graph I: H-MITF repressed reporter activity in a DNA binding-dependent manner. Graph II: VSX2 and VSX2 [R227W] enhanced reporter activity. Graph III: H-MITF combined with VSX2 [R227W] elicited a specific and synergistic increase in reporter activity that depended on DNA binding as revealed by the abrogated activity of the VSX2 [R200Q, R227W] double mutant (RQRW). Graph IV: Expression of the mi version of H-MITF had no effect on reporter activity resulting from VSX2 or its variants. (C) Schematic of p27 5′-intergenic region (∼1.1 kb). Positions of putative Mitf binding sites (M) and homeodomain core sequences (H) are shown. Positions are relative to p27 transcriptional start site. Position of primers that constitute p27 primer set 2 is also shown. Graphs show quantification of ChIP-qPCR assays using MITF or VSX2 antibodies reacted with E12.5 lysates from wild-type, R200Q and R227W retinas. MITF binding was detected in R200Q and R227W lysates. VSX2 binding was detected in R227W lysate. (D) Co-IPs of E12.5 R227W and R200Q retinal protein lysates with a negative control sheep IgG or VSX2 antibodies followed by western blot probed with MITF antibody (top panel). Co-IPs of HEK293 cells transfected with VSX2 or its variants (listed below images) plus H-MITF (middle panel) or its mi variant (bottom panel). IPs were performed with sheep IgG or VSX2 antibodies followed by western blot probed with MITF antibody. input refers to the 20% of whole protein lysate used for co-IP. (E) Luciferase assays in HEK293 cells transfected with the indicated expression vectors ( x- axes) and the pGL3B- HMitf . Left graph: effects of VSX2 and its variants on reporter activity were not statistically significant. Right graph: H-MITF repressed reporter activity, whereas OTX1 enhanced reporter activity. Reporter activity in cells co-expressing of OTX1 and H-MITF was significantly higher than the sum of the factors expressed individually (** associated with lines over bars). H-MITF [mi] enhanced reporter activity, but reporter activity in cells co-expressing OTX1 and H- MITF [mi] was not significantly different than the sum of the two factors expressed individually. * P≤0.05; ** P≤0.01; *** P≤0.001.

Article Snippet: Vsx2 R200Q chimeric mice were generated at inGenious Targeting Laboratory (Stony Brook, NY) and Vsx2 R227W chimeric mice were generated at the University of Utah Gene Targeting and Transgenic Core Facility (See and for details on gene targeting strategy).

Techniques: Expressing, Quantitative RT-PCR, Luciferase, Transfection, Activity Assay, Binding Assay, Mutagenesis, ChIP-qPCR, Negative Control, Western Blot, Variant Assay, Co-Immunoprecipitation Assay

Journal: PLoS Genetics

Article Title: Vsx2 Controls Eye Organogenesis and Retinal Progenitor Identity Via Homeodomain and Non-Homeodomain Residues Required for High Affinity DNA Binding

doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002924

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A) During early eye development, Mitf is expressed in optic neuroepithelial cells (Mitf ONC ) in response to upstream activators. Vsx2 expression is activated in the newly specified retinal domain by upstream activators, which leads to repression of Mitf in RPCs (Mitf RPC ) and suppression of the pigmentation program. (B) In orJ mice, Mitf persists in RPCs because the VSX2 protein is absent, which increases the probability that pigmentation will occur. (C) In R200Q mice, VSX2 [R200Q] protein is present but unable to bind DNA, allowing Mitf to persist in RPCs, increasing the probability of pigmentation. (D) In R227W mice, VSX2 [R227W] protein is present and may still suppress the pathway that leads to pigmentation in orJ and R200Q RPCs, but its interaction with Mitf combined with its weak DNA binding activity engages a novel positive feedback loop that activates a robust pigmentation program. Our genetic data place Otx1 downstream of p27 and D-Mitf, but the mechanism causing its elevated expression is not clear.

Article Snippet: Vsx2 R200Q chimeric mice were generated at inGenious Targeting Laboratory (Stony Brook, NY) and Vsx2 R227W chimeric mice were generated at the University of Utah Gene Targeting and Transgenic Core Facility (See and for details on gene targeting strategy).

Techniques: Expressing, Binding Assay, Activity Assay

Journal: PLoS Genetics

Article Title: Vsx2 Controls Eye Organogenesis and Retinal Progenitor Identity Via Homeodomain and Non-Homeodomain Residues Required for High Affinity DNA Binding

doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002924

Figure Lengend Snippet: (A) In response to RPC program activators, Vsx2 expression is initiated and newly produced protein interacts with preexisting MITF protein, preventing access to targets required for the pigmentation program. (B) Once VSX2 protein expression is established, it regulates Mitf activity by directly repressing Mitf transcription of isoforms such as D-Mitf and binds to MITF proteins produced from promoters that Vsx2 does not efficiently repress such as A-Mitf and possibly H-Mitf .

Article Snippet: Vsx2 R200Q chimeric mice were generated at inGenious Targeting Laboratory (Stony Brook, NY) and Vsx2 R227W chimeric mice were generated at the University of Utah Gene Targeting and Transgenic Core Facility (See and for details on gene targeting strategy).

Techniques: Expressing, Produced, Activity Assay