| First Author | Birger Y | Year | 2006 |
| Journal | Differentiation | Volume | 74 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | 19-29 |
| PubMed ID | 16466397 | Mgi Jnum | J:105284 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3614611 | Doi | 10.1111/j.1432-0436.2006.00054.x |
| Citation | Birger Y, et al. (2006) A role for chromosomal protein HMGN1 in corneal maturation. Differentiation 74(1):19-29 |
| abstractText | Corneal differentiation and maturation are associated with major changes in the expression levels of numerous genes, including those coding for the chromatin-binding high-mobility group (HMG) proteins. Here we report that HMGN1, a nucleosome-binding protein that alters the structure and activity of chromatin, affects the development of the corneal epithelium in mice. The corneal epithelium of Hmgn1(-/-) mice is thin, has a reduced number of cells, is poorly stratified, is depleted of suprabasal wing cells, and its most superficial cell layer blisters. In mature Hmgn1(-/-)mice, the basal cells retain the ovoid shape of immature cells, and rest directly on the basal membrane which is disorganized. Gene expression was modified in Hmgn1(-/-) corneas: glutathione-S-transferase (GST)alpha 4and GST omega 1, epithelial layer-specific markers, were selectively reduced while E-cadherin and alpha-, beta-, and gamma-catenin, components of adherens junctions, were increased. Immunofluorescence analysis reveals a complete co-localization of HMGN1 and p63 in small clusters of basal corneal epithelial cells of wild-type mice, and an absence of p63 expressing cells in the central region of the Hmgn1(-/-) cornea. We suggest that interaction of HMGN1 with chromatin modulates the fidelity of gene expression and affects corneal development and maturation. |
