Sheng H Z, Moriyama K, Yamashita T, Li H, Potter S S, Mahon K A, Westphal H
Laboratory of Mammalian Genes and Development, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Science. 1997 Dec 5;278(5344):1809-12. doi: 10.1126/science.278.5344.1809.
Lhx3 and Lhx4 (Gsh4), two closely related LIM homeobox genes, determine formation of the pituitary gland in mice. Rathke's pouch is formed in two steps-first as a rudiment and later as a definitive pouch. Lhx3 and Lhx4 have redundant control over formation of the definitive pouch. Lhx3 controls a subsequent step of pituitary fate commitment. Thereafter, Lhx3 and Lhx4 together regulate proliferation and differentiation of pituitary-specific cell lineages. Thus, Lhx3 and Lhx4 dictate pituitary organ identity by controlling developmental decisions at multiple stages of organogenesis.
Lhx3和Lhx4（Gsh4）是两个密切相关的含LIM结构域的同源框基因，它们决定小鼠垂体的形成。拉特克囊分两步形成——首先是原基，随后是成熟囊。Lhx3和Lhx4对成熟囊的形成具有冗余控制作用。Lhx3控制垂体命运决定的后续步骤。此后，Lhx3和Lhx4共同调节垂体特异性细胞谱系的增殖和分化。因此，Lhx3和Lhx4通过控制器官发生多个阶段的发育决定来决定垂体器官特性。
