Primary Structure, Neural-specific Expression, and Chromosomal Localization of , a Second Murine Homeobox Gene Related to

Abstract

The cut locus of Drosophila encodes a diverged homeodomain-containing protein that is required for the development of external sensory (es) organs and other tissues. A homologous gene (Cux-1) that encodes a transcriptional repressor has been identified in the mouse and other mammals. We have identified a second murine homeobox-containing gene (designated Cux-2) that is structurally related to Drosophila cut. The murine Cux-2 homeobox was similar to Drosophila cut and encoded a homeodomain that contained a characteristic histidine residue at position 50. The predicted Cux-2 protein contained 1426 amino acids and included three internal 60-amino acid repeats (Cut repeats) that were previously found in Drosophila Cut and murine Cux-1. Unlike Cux-1, expression of Cux-2 was restricted to neural tissue. In the adult brain, Cux-2 was prominently expressed in neurons in the thalamus and limbic system. In embryos, Cux-2 was expressed in the developing central and peripheral nervous systems, including the telencephalon and peripheral ganglia of the trigeminal and glossopharyngeal nerves. A glutathione S-transferase fusion protein containing the carboxyl-terminal Cut repeat and homeodomain of Cux-2 exhibited sequence-specific binding to oligonucleotides derived from the promoter of the Ncam gene. Using an interspecific backcross panel, Cux-1 and Cux-2 were mapped to distinct loci that were genetically linked on distal chromosome 5. These results demonstrate that a family of homeobox genes related to Drosophila cut is located on chromosome 5 in the mouse. Cux-2 is expressed exclusively in the central and peripheral nervous systems, and the Cux-2 gene product binds to DNA in a sequence-specific manner. Cux-2 may encode a transcription factor that is involved in neural specification in mammals.

Expression of Cux‐1 and Cux‐2 in the developing somatosensory cortex of normal and barrel‐defective mice

“…In brief, Cux-2 protein is nuclear and is expressed only in neurons (Quaggin et al, 1996). The spatiotemporal patterns of Cux-1 and Cux-2 IR overlapped entirely that of gene expression ( Fig.…”

Possible association of CUX1 gene polymorphisms with antidepressant response in major depressive disorder

“…In humans, two Cux genes, CUX1 [14] and CUX2 [15], have been identified. Studies in mice showed that Cux1 was expressed in many somatic tissues and also in the brain [16], whereas expression of Cux2 was restricted to neural tissue [17].…”

Identification of Genetic Loci That Interact With cut During Drosophila Wing-Margin Development

“…Of scription factor with three novel DNA-binding domains, the genes that were identified through these screens, the termed CUT repeats (Blochlinger et al 1988; Andres BTB-domain zinc-finger gene longitudinals lacking (lola) et al 1994; Moon et al 2000). Vertebrate cut homologs, and several genes encoding subunits of the Brahma chroincluding mouse Cux1 and Cux2 (Valarche et al 1993; matin-remodeling complexes were investigated further Quaggin et al 1996;Zimmer et al 2004) and human with regard to their interaction with cut during wing-CDP (Neufeld et al 1992), are postulated to regulate margin development. The genetic interactions between cell growth and terminal differentiation.…”