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Pitx2 regulates myosin heavy chain isoform expression and multi‐innervation in extraocular muscle
Author(s) -
Zhou Yuefang,
Liu Dan,
Kaminski Henry J
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.207076
Subject(s) - extraocular muscles , myosin , biology , homeobox , gene isoform , tonic (physiology) , anatomy , microbiology and biotechnology , endocrinology , medicine , gene expression , gene , genetics
Non‐Technical Summary The visual system requires the generation of a variety of eye movements ranging from extremely rapid saccades to slow pursuit movements which all necessitate great precision and fatigue resistance. The extraocular muscles, which are the final generators of eye movements, must be adapted to fulfill these expectations. Therefore, it is not surprising that these muscles contain a diversity of myosin heavy chains, which specify the contraction speed of a muscle. Here, we show the transcription factor Pitx2 is critical in the establishment of the mature myosin heavy chain composition of extraocular muscle. We also demonstrate the absence of Pitx2 after birth leads to the loss of multi‐innervation, a unique feature of the adult extraocular muscle phenotype. Knowledge of how expression of contractile proteins is regulated and their influence on eye movements may lead to potential therapeutics for strabismus and other disorders of ocular motility.