RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 <em>Jxc1</em>/<em>Sobp</em>, Encoding a Nuclear Zinc Finger Protein, Is Critical for Cochlear Growth, Cell Fate, and Patterning of the Organ of Corti
JF The Journal of Neuroscience
JO J. Neurosci.
FD Society for Neuroscience
SP 6633
OP 6641
DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1280-08.2008
VO 28
IS 26
A1 Chen, Zheng
A1 Montcouquiol, Mireille
A1 Calderon, Rene
A1 Jenkins, Nancy A.
A1 Copeland, Neal G.
A1 Kelley, Matthew W.
A1 Noben-Trauth, Konrad
YR 2008
UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/28/26/6633.abstract
AB The mouse cochlea emerges from the ventral pole of the otocyst to form a one and three-quarter coil. Little is known about the factors that control the growth of the cochlea. Jackson circler (jc) is a recessive mutation causing deafness resulting from a growth arrest of the cochlea duct at day 13.5 of embryonic development. Here, we identify the vertebrate homolog of the Drosophila Sobp (sine oculis-binding protein) gene (named Jxc1) in the jc locus. Jxc1 encodes a nuclear protein that has two FCS-type zinc finger domains (PS51024) and bears nuclear localization signals and highly conserved sequence motifs. Transiently expressed wild-type protein is targeted to the nucleus, but mutant isoforms were mislocalized in the cytoplasm. In jc mutants, the cellular patterning of the organ of Corti is severely disrupted, exhibiting supernumerary hair cells at the apex, showing mirror-image duplications of tunnel of Corti and inner hair cells, and expressing ectopic vestibular-like hair cells within Kölliker's organ. Jxc1 mRNA was detected in inner ear sensory hair cells, supporting cells, and the acoustic ganglia. Expression was also found in the developing retina, olfactory epithelium, trigeminal ganglion, and hair follicles. Collectively, our data support a role for Jxc1 in controlling a critical step in cochlear growth, cell fate, and patterning of the organ of Corti.