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The Homeodomain Transcription Factors Vax1 and Six6 Are Required for SCN Development and Function.

Erica C Pandolfi | Joseph A Breuer | Viet Anh Nguyen Huu | Tulasi Talluri | Duong Nguyen | Jessica Sora Lee | Rachael Hu | Kapil Bharti | Dorota Skowronska-Krawczyk | Michael R Gorman | Pamela L Mellon | Hanne M Hoffmann
Molecular neurobiology | 2020

The brain's primary circadian pacemaker, the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), is required to translate day-length and circadian rhythms into neuronal, hormonal, and behavioral rhythms. Here, we identify the homeodomain transcription factor ventral anterior homeobox 1 (Vax1) as required for SCN development, vasoactive intestinal peptide expression, and SCN output. Previous work has shown that VAX1 is required for gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH/LHRH) neuron development, a neuronal population controlling reproductive status. Surprisingly, the ectopic expression of a Gnrh-Cre allele (Gnrhcre) in the SCN confirmed the requirement of both VAX1 (Vax1flox/flox:Gnrhcre, Vax1Gnrh-cre) and sine oculis homeobox protein 6 (Six6flox/flox:Gnrhcre, Six6Gnrh-cre) in SCN function in adulthood. To dissociate the role of Vax1 and Six6 in GnRH neuron and SCN function, we used another Gnrh-cre allele that targets GnRH neurons, but not the SCN (Lhrhcre). Both Six6Lhrh-cre and Vax1Lhrh-cre were infertile, and in contrast to Vax1Gnrh-cre and Six6Gnrh-cre mice, Six6Lhrh-cre and Vax1Lhrh-cre had normal circadian behavior. Unexpectedly, ~ 1/4 of the Six6Gnrh-cre mice were unable to entrain to light, showing that ectopic expression of Gnrhcre impaired function of the retino-hypothalamic tract that relays light information to the brain. This study identifies VAX1, and confirms SIX6, as transcription factors required for SCN development and function and demonstrates the importance of understanding how ectopic CRE expression can impact the results.

Pubmed ID: 31705443

Associated grants

  • Agency: NINDS NIH HHS, United States
    Id: IRP finds
  • Agency: NICHD NIH HHS, United States
    Id: F31 HD089652
  • Agency: NEI NIH HHS, United States
    Id: P30 EY022589
  • Agency: NIDDK NIH HHS, United States
    Id: P30 DK063491
  • Agency: NICHD NIH HHS, United States
    Id: P50 HD028934
  • Agency: NCI NIH HHS, United States
    Id: P30 CA023100
  • Agency: NICHD NIH HHS, United States
    Id: K99 HD084759
  • Agency: NICHD NIH HHS, United States
    Id: R01 HD098652
  • Agency: NICHD NIH HHS, United States
    Id: R01 HD100580
  • Agency: NEI NIH HHS, United States
    Id: EY027011
  • Agency: NIGMS NIH HHS, United States
    Id: R25 GM083275
  • Agency: NICHD NIH HHS, United States
    Id: R01 HD072754
  • Agency: NICHD NIH HHS, United States
    Id: R01 HD082567
  • Agency: NICHD NIH HHS, United States
    Id: R00 HD084759
  • Agency: NEI NIH HHS, United States
    Id: R01 EY027011
  • Agency: NIEHS NIH HHS, United States
    Id: P42 ES010337
  • Agency: NICHD NIH HHS, United States
    Id: P50 HD012303
  • Agency: NICHD NIH HHS, United States
    Id: R24 HD102061

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