Pax 6: mastering eye morphogenesis and eye evolution

Trends Genet. 1999 Sep;15(9):371-7. doi: 10.1016/s0168-9525(99)01776-x.

Abstract

Pax 6 genes from various animal phyla are capable of inducing ectopic eye development, indicating that Pax 6 is a master control gene for eye morphogenesis. It is proposed that the various eye-types found in metazoa are derived from a common prototype, monophyletically, by a mechanism called intercalary evolution.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Biological Evolution
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Eye / growth & development*
  • Eye Proteins / genetics*
  • Homeodomain Proteins*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • PAX6 Transcription Factor
  • Paired Box Transcription Factors
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Eye Proteins
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • PAX6 Transcription Factor
  • PAX6 protein, human
  • Paired Box Transcription Factors
  • Repressor Proteins