CELL-SPECIFIC EXPRESSION IN THE PITUITARY GLAND

描述：(改编自申请者的摘要)调查员将 生成和分析亚形、空和细胞特异性的基因修饰 Pitx2.将产生特定的抗体来评估细胞特异性 在正常动物脑下垂体和其他器官中的表达。几个 垂体激素基因与Pitx2有结合位点。有三种异构体 其中两个在脑下垂体表达(Pitx2a，Pitx2b)。 每种Pitx2亚型对已知靶基因表达的相对活性 将通过使用同源脑下垂体的瞬时转基因研究进行评估 细胞系。垂体中异位表达的Pitx2a和Pitx2b的影响 促肾上腺皮质激素也将使用瞬时转染法和 转基因小鼠。通过结合转基因、胚胎干细胞 细胞技术小鼠，研究人员将剖析其贡献 单个细胞和单个基因在调节正常生长和 脑下垂体的发育。

DESCRIPTION: (Adapted from the applicant's abstract) The investigator will generate and analyze hypomorphic, null and cell-specific gene modifications of Pitx2. Specific antibodies will be generated to assess the cell specificity of Pitx2 expression in the pituitary and other organs of intact animals. Several pituitary hormone genes have binding sites for Pitx2. There are three isoforms of Pitx2, two of which are expressed in the pituitary gland (Pitx2a, Pitx2b). The relative activity of each Pitx2 isoform on expression of known target genes will be assessed by transient transfection studies using homologous pituitary cell lines. The effects of ectopic Pitx2a and Pitx2b expression in pituitary corticotropes will also be investigated using both transient transfection and transgenic mice. By combining the approaches of transfection, embryonic stem cell technology mice, the investigator will dissect the contributions of individual cells and individual genes in regulating the normal growth and development of the pituitary.