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Homeobox gene Nkx6.1 lies downstream of Nkx2.2 in the major pathway of beta-cell formation in the pancreas
M. Sander, L. Sussel, J. Conners, D. Scheel, J. Kalamaras, F. Dela Cruz, V. Schwitzgebel, A. Hayes-Jordan, M. German
Development 2000 127: 5533-5540;

Summary

Most insulin-producing beta-cells in the fetal mouse pancreas arise during the secondary transition, a wave of differentiation starting at embryonic day 13. Here, we show that disruption of homeobox gene Nkx6.1 in mice leads to loss of beta-cell precursors and blocks beta-cell neogenesis specifically during the secondary transition. In contrast, islet development in Nkx6. 1/Nkx2.2 double mutant embryos is identical to Nkx2.2 single mutant islet development: beta-cell precursors survive but fail to differentiate into beta-cells throughout development. Together, these experiments reveal two independently controlled pathways for beta-cell differentiation, and place Nkx6.1 downstream of Nkx2.2 in the major pathway of beta-cell differentiation.

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JOURNAL ARTICLES
Homeobox gene Nkx6.1 lies downstream of Nkx2.2 in the major pathway of beta-cell formation in the pancreas
M. Sander, L. Sussel, J. Conners, D. Scheel, J. Kalamaras, F. Dela Cruz, V. Schwitzgebel, A. Hayes-Jordan, M. German
Development 2000 127: 5533-5540;
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