- PITX3 gene encodes a homeobox transcription factor, which is a member of the PITX subfamily of paired-like homeobox proteins.
- In the mammalian brain, PITX3 is expressed in midbrain dopaminergic neurons and is involved in molecular development of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and for postnatal survival of a subset of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area (Smidt et al. 2004; Korotkova et al. 2005; Castillo-Carranza et al. 2008).
- Midbrain dopaminergic pathways are implicated in control of many brain functions, including those involved in psychiatric and neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s disease (PD).
| Promoter Constructs | ESC Lines | Mice |
| pEMS1631 (Ple160) | mEMS4135, mEMS4160, mEMS4140, mEMS4169 | mice generated using ESC mESM4135 |
| pEMS1148 (Ple162) | mEMS942, mEMS951, mEMS954 | mice generated using ESC mESM954 |
(A) Expression from Ple160 in chimeric mouse brain; (B) specific expression in ventral tegmental area (VTA); (C) specific expression in hippocampus.
(A,B) Ple162 expression showing blue cells in the midbrain region bordering the fasciculus retroflexus. (C,D) Double labelling for ßgal and tyrosine hydroxylase - ßgal-positive cells are not dopaminergic cells, but do border the dorsal edge of the main dopaminergic population of the VTA. (E,F) Ple162 Also Targets Retina with an apparent stochastic appearance.
