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SUMMARY:TCF/Lef regulates the Gsx ParaHox gene in central nervous developm
 ent in chordates. - Myles Garstang\, University of St Andrews
DTSTART:20160420T120000Z
DTEND:20160420T130000Z
UID:TALK65527@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Joe Hanly
DESCRIPTION:The ParaHox genes play an integral role in the anterior-poster
 ior (A-P) patterning of the nervous system and gut of most animals. The Pa
 raHox cluster is an ideal system in which to study the evolution and regul
 ation of developmental genes and gene clusters\, as it displays similar re
 gulatory phenomena to its sister cluster\, the Hox cluster\, but offers a 
 much simpler system with only three genes. Using Ciona intestinalis transg
 enics\, we isolated a regulatory element upstream of Branchiostoma florida
 e Gsx that drives expression within the central nervous system of Ciona em
 bryos. The minimal amphioxus enhancer region required to drive CNS express
 ion has been identified\, along with surrounding sequence that increases t
 he efficiency of reporter expression throughout the Ciona CNS. TCF/Lef bin
 ding sites were identified and mutagenized and found to be required to dri
 ve the CNS expression. Also\, individual contributions of TCF/Lef sites va
 ried across the regulatory region\, revealing a partial division of functi
 on across the Bf-Gsx-Up regulatory element. Finally\, when all TCF/Lef bin
 ding sites are mutated CNS expression is not only abolished\, but a latent
  repressive function is also unmasked. We examine the evolutionary and dev
 elopmental implications of these results\, and discuss the possibility of 
 TCF/Lef not only as a regulator of chordate Gsx\, but as a deeply conserve
 d regulatory factor controlling all three ParaHox genes across the Metazoa
 .
LOCATION:Part II Lecture Theatre\, Department of Zoology
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