Distinct enhancers at the Pax3 locus can function redundantly to regulate neural tube and neural crest expressions.

Pax3 is a transcription factor expressed in somitic mesoderm, dorsal neural tube and pre-migratory neural crest during embryonic development. We have previously identified cis-acting enhancer elements within the proximal upstream genomic region of Pax3 that are sufficient to direct functional expression of Pax3 in neural crest. These elements direct expression of a reporter gene to pre-migratory neural crest in transgenic mice, and transgenic expression of a Pax3 cDNA using these elements is sufficient to rescue neural crest development in mice otherwise lacking endogenous Pax3.

Cardiomyocyte-specific loss of neurofibromin promotes cardiac hypertrophy and dysfunction.

Rationale: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a common autosomal dominant disorder with a broad array of clinical manifestations, including benign and malignant tumors, and characteristic cutaneous findings. NF1 patients also have an increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases, including obstructive vascular disorders and hypertension. The disease gene, NF1, encodes neurofibromin, a ubiquitously expressed protein that acts, in part, as a Ras-GAP (GTP-ase activating protein), downregulating the activity of activated Ras protooncogenes.

Murine Jagged1/Notch signaling in the second heart field orchestrates Fgf8 expression and tissue-tissue interactions during outflow tract development.

Notch signaling is vital for proper cardiovascular development and function in both humans and animal models. Indeed, mutations in either JAGGED or NOTCH cause congenital heart disease in humans and NOTCH mutations are associated with adult valvular disease. Notch typically functions to mediate developmental interactions between adjacent tissues.

Menin is required in cranial neural crest for palatogenesis and perinatal viability.

Menin is a nuclear protein encoded by a tumor suppressor gene that is mutated in humans with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1). Menin functions as a component of a histone methyltransferase complex that regulates expression of target genes including the cell cycle inhibitor p27(kip1). Here, we show that menin plays a previously unappreciated and critical role in cranial neural crest.

Tobacco coverage in popular magazines: 1996-1999.

Objective: To determine the extent of coverage of tobacco topics, as compared to coverage of health and nonhealth topics, in "general interest" and "health" magazines.

Methods: Lead articles and fillers published from 1996 through 1999 in 9 widely circulated magazines were studied.

Results: Less than 1% of all articles and fillers on health topics focused on tobacco topics.