PITX2 Isoform-specific Regulation of Atrial Natriuretic Factor Expression

Abstract

PITX2 and Nkx2.5 are two of the earliest known transcriptional markers of vertebrate heart development. Pitx2؊/؊ mice present with severe cardiac malformations and embryonic lethality, demonstrating a role for PITX2 in heart development. However, little is known about the downstream targets of PITX2 in cardiogenesis. We report here that the atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) promoter is a target of PITX2. PITX2A, PITX2B, and PITX2C isoforms differentially activate the ANF promoter. However, only PITX2C can synerg…