Download or read book Dual Functions of the Retinal Determination Gene Network Member EYES ABSENT as a Transcription Factor and Protein Phosphatase written by Serena Jean Silver Brown and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 560 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Proper development of cell types and tissues requires the integration of extracellular signals to provide context specific information that ensures appropriate differentiation. The Drosophila eye is an excellent model for the study of this signal integration, as its development is orchestrated by the interactions of common signal transduction pathways in conjunction with organ specific gene expression. Signaling through the NOTCH, DECAPENTAPLEGIC/ TRANSFORMING GROWTH FACTOR-[beta], WINGLESS, HEDGEHOG, and EPIDERMAL GROWTH FACTOR RECEPTOR pathways sets the stage for appropriate deployment of the Retinal Determination (RD) gene network members to direct formation of the eye and other organs. The RD gene network encodes a group of evolutionarily conserved transcription factors and co-factors that are crucial for the formation of many organs including the eye. These nuclear factors, which include proteins in the PAX6, EYA, SIX, and DACH families, are regulated by their interactions with each other and by effectors of the signaling pathways mentioned above. The mechanistic links between the RD gene network and signaling pathways are just beginning to be understood, particularly at the level of phosphorylation and regulation of transcriptional targets. One crucial role for the crosstalk between signaling pathways and this network of transcription factors is to coordinate the processes of cell proliferation and cell differentiation so that appropriate organ size and structure can be achieved.