Journal article

Cbx2, a polycomb group gene, is required for Sry gene expression in mice

Y Katoh-Fukui, K Miyabayashi, T Komatsu, A Owaki, T Baba, Y Shima, T Kidokoro, Y Kanai, A Schedl, D Wilhelm, P Koopman, Y Okuno, KI Morohashi

Endocrinology | Published : 2012

Abstract

Mice lacking the function of the polycomb group protein CBX2 (chromobox homolog 2; also known as M33) show defects in gonadal, adrenal, and splenic development. In particular, XY knockout (KO) mice develop ovaries but not testes, and the gonads are hypoplastic in both sexes. However, how CBX2 regulates development of these tissues remains largely unknown. In the present study, weused microarray, RT-PCR, and immunohistochemical analyses to show that the expression of Sry, Sox9, Lhx9, Ad4BP/SF-1, Dax-1, Gata4, Arx, and Dmrt1, genes encoding transcription factors essential for gonadal development, is affected in Cbx2 KO gonads. Male-to-female sex reversal in Cbx2 KO mice was rescued by crossing..

View full abstract

University of Melbourne Researchers

Grants

Awarded by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science


Funding Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Priority Areas and Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports Science, and Technology of Japan, and in part by Tokyo Biochemical Research Foundation.