TY - JOUR
T1 - Targets of the transcription factor Six1 identify novel candidate deafness genes
AU - Streit, Andrea
AU - Ranganathan, Ramya
AU - Sari, Fereshteh
AU - Wang, Scarlet
AU - Thiery, Alexandre
AU - Buzzi, Ailin Leticia
AU - Guerra, Rosalinda
AU - Moody, Sally
PY - 2025/2/13
Y1 - 2025/2/13
N2 - Branchio-otic (BOS) and Branchio-oto-renal (BOR) syndromes are autosomal dominant disorders featuring multiple birth defects including ear, renal and branchial malformations. Mutations in the homeodomain transcription factor SIX1 and its co-factor EYA1 have been identified in about 50% of BOS/BOR patients, while causative mutations are unknown in the other half. We hypothesise that SIX1 target genes represent new BOS/BOR candidates. Using published transcriptomic and epigenomic data from chick ear progenitors, we first identify putative Six1 targets. Next, we provide evidence that Six1 directly regulates some of these candidates: Six1 binds to their enhancers and functional experiments in Xenopus and chick confirm that Six1 controls their expression. Finally, we show that most putative chick Six1 targets are also expressed in the human developing ear and are associated with known deafness loci. Together, our results not only characterise the molecular mechanisms that mediate Six1 function in the developing ear, but also provide new candidates for human congenital deafness.
AB - Branchio-otic (BOS) and Branchio-oto-renal (BOR) syndromes are autosomal dominant disorders featuring multiple birth defects including ear, renal and branchial malformations. Mutations in the homeodomain transcription factor SIX1 and its co-factor EYA1 have been identified in about 50% of BOS/BOR patients, while causative mutations are unknown in the other half. We hypothesise that SIX1 target genes represent new BOS/BOR candidates. Using published transcriptomic and epigenomic data from chick ear progenitors, we first identify putative Six1 targets. Next, we provide evidence that Six1 directly regulates some of these candidates: Six1 binds to their enhancers and functional experiments in Xenopus and chick confirm that Six1 controls their expression. Finally, we show that most putative chick Six1 targets are also expressed in the human developing ear and are associated with known deafness loci. Together, our results not only characterise the molecular mechanisms that mediate Six1 function in the developing ear, but also provide new candidates for human congenital deafness.
M3 - Article
SN - 0950-1991
JO - Development (Cambridge, England)
JF - Development (Cambridge, England)
ER -