Identification by ChIP-on-Chip of ARX target genes, a transcription factor implicated in mental retardation and epilepsy
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ABSTRACT: Genetic investigations of X-linked intellectual disabilities have implicated the ARX (Aristaless-related homeobox) gene in a wide spectrum of disorders extending from phenotypes characterised by severe neuronal migration defects such as lissencephaly, to mild or moderate forms of mental retardation without apparent brain abnormalities but with associated features of dystonia and epilepsy. Analysis of Arx spatio-temporal localisation profile in mouse revealed expression in telencephalic structures, mainly restricted to populations of GABAergic neurons at all stages of development. Furthermore, studies of the effects of ARX loss of function in humans and animal models revealed varying defects, suggesting multiple roles of this gene during brain development. However, to date, little is known about how ARX functions as a transcription factor and the nature of its targets. To better understand its role, we combined chromatin immunoprecipitation and mRNA expression with microarray analysis and identified a total of 1006 gene promoters bound by Arx in transfected neuroblastoma (N2a) cells and in mouse embryonic brain. Some of these promoters were enriched for a sequence very similar to a motif previously identified as Arx-binding motif and approximately 24% of Arx-bound genes were found to show expression changes following Arx overexpression or knock-down. Several of the Arx target genes we identified are known to be important for a variety of functions in brain development, including axonal guidance and synaptic plasticity and some of them suggest new functions for Arx. Overall, these results identified multiple new candidate targets for Arx and should help to better understand the pathophysiological mechanisms of intellectual disability and epilepsy associated with ARX mutations. ChIP-Chip experiments were performed with either Arx transfected N2a cells or mouse embryonic brains (E15.5). Three replicates were performed for each condition.
ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus
SUBMITTER: Gaelle Friocourt
PROVIDER: E-GEOD-29985 | biostudies-arrayexpress |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress
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