The transcription factor Maz is essential for normal eye development

Dis Model Mech. 2020 Aug 18;13(8):dmm044412. doi: 10.1242/dmm.044412.

Abstract

Wnt/β-catenin signaling has an essential role in eye development. Faulty regulation of this pathway results in ocular malformations, owing to defects in cell-fate determination and differentiation. Herein, we show that disruption of Maz, the gene encoding Myc-associated zinc-finger transcription factor, produces developmental eye defects in mice and humans. Expression of key genes involved in the Wnt cascade, Sfrp2, Wnt2b and Fzd4, was significantly increased in mice with targeted inactivation of Maz, resulting in abnormal peripheral eye formation with reduced proliferation of the progenitor cells in the region. Paradoxically, the Wnt reporter TCF-Lef1 displayed a significant downregulation in Maz-deficient eyes. Molecular analysis indicates that Maz is necessary for the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and participates in the network controlling ciliary margin patterning. Copy-number variations and single-nucleotide variants of MAZ were identified in humans that result in abnormal ocular development. The data support MAZ as a key contributor to the eye comorbidities associated with chromosome 16p11.2 copy-number variants and as a transcriptional regulator of ocular development.

Keywords: CNV 16p11.2; Eye; Maz; Sfrp2; Wnt pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Child, Preschool
  • DNA Copy Number Variations
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Eye / metabolism*
  • Eye / pathology
  • Eye Abnormalities / genetics
  • Eye Abnormalities / metabolism*
  • Eye Abnormalities / pathology
  • Female
  • Gene Dosage
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Morphogenesis
  • Phenotype
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • c-MYC-associated zinc finger protein