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Heart and extra-embryonic mesodermal defects in mouse embryos lacking the bHLH transcription factor Hand1

Nature Genetics volume 18, pages 266–270 (1998)Cite this article

Abstract

The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors, Handl and Hand2 (refs 1,2), also called eHand/Hxt/Thing1 and dHand/Hed/Thing2 (refs 3,4), respectively, are expressed in the heart and certain neural-crest derivatives during embryogenesis. In addition, Handl is expressed in extraembryonic membranes, whereas Hand2 is expressed in the deciduum. Previous studies have demonstrated that Hand2 is required for formation of the right ventricle of the heart and the aortic arch arteries5. We have generated a germline mutation in the mouse Handl gene by replacing the first coding exon with a β-galactosidase reporter gene. Embryos homozygous for the Hand1 null allele died between embryonic days 8.5 and 9.5 and exhibited yolk sac abnormalities due to a deficiency in extraembryonic mesoderm. Heart development was also perturbed and did not progress beyond the cardiac-looping stage. Our results demonstrate important roles for Handl in extraembryonic mesodermal and heart development.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Molecular Biology and Oncology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 6000 Harry Mines Blvd., Dallas, Texas, 75235-9148, USA

    Anthony B. Firulli, David G. McFadden, Qing Lin, Deepak Srivastava & Eric N. Olson

  2. Pediatrics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 6000 Harry Mines Blvd., Dallas, Texas, 75235-9148, USA

    Deepak Srivastava

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  1. Anthony B. Firulli
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  2. David G. McFadden
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  3. Qing Lin
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  4. Deepak Srivastava
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  5. Eric N. Olson
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Correspondence to Eric N. Olson.

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Firulli, A., McFadden, D., Lin, Q. et al. Heart and extra-embryonic mesodermal defects in mouse embryos lacking the bHLH transcription factor Hand1. Nat Genet 18, 266–270 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1038/ng0398-266

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