The role of NKX6-1 in the lens and its relationship with PAX6 in lens development is not well understood. However, data from other studies suggest that there is an antagonistic relationship between PAX6 and NKX6-1 in the development of the neural tube and the pancreas. Therefore, we hypothesize that at least part of the development of the lens PAX 6 and NKX6-1 display an antagonistic relationship which results in NKX6-1 repressing Pax6. Specifically, we aim to determining if the PAX6 expression pattern changes in NKX6-1lox/lox Cre+ mice lenses and how both the overexpression and lack of NKX6-1 in mouse lenses affects the levels of expression by PAX6 and other genes associated with PAX6 in the lens. To understand this relationship we looked at a H&E Stain of NKX6-1lox/lox Cre+ mice compared to wild-type mice to determine if lens structure had changed. We found there was no change to the lens structure. In the future, we will perform an immunochemistry of NKX6-1lox/lox Cre+ mice compared to wild-type mice to determine if the PAX6 expression pattern in the lenses changed. We will also compare the transcript expression of PAX6 and other PAX6 associated genes in NKX6-1lox/lox Cre+ , NKX6-1 overexpressed, and wild type lenses by extracting RNA and completing a qPCR to compare expression levels. We expect to see PAX6 expression increase in the fiber cells of the lens in the NKX6-1lox/lox Cre+ . It is also expected that there will be a decrease in the expression of PAX6 and PAX6 associated genes that are up-regulated in NKX6-1 overexpressed lenses compared to wild-type lenses. The opposite effect is observed in the NKX6-1lox/lox Cre+mice compared to wild-type lenses. I plan to apply the knowledge I have gained from this project towards my future work in the medical field.
Author: Dana Kapcio
Faculty Advisor: Michael Robinson, Biology
Graduate Student Advisor: Tycho Jaquish, Biology
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