4ati

Structural highlights

Disease

[MITF_MOUSE] Defects in Mitf are the cause of microphthalmia (mi), a condition characterized by loss of pigmentation; reduced eye size; failure of secondary bone resorption; reduced numbers of mast cells; early onset of deafness, and which gives rise to a number of different phenotypes. Among them, microphthalmia-eyeless white (mi-ew) has a normal appearance at the heterozygous state, but shows white coat; eyes almost absent and eyelids never open at homozygosity. Microphthalmia-black and white spot (mi-bws) is normal at heterozygosity, and presents white spots and black eyes at homozygous state. Microphthalmia-white (mi-wh) has reduced coat color and eye pigmentation; spots on toes, tail and belly; inner ear defects at heterozygosity, and at homozygosity shows white coat; eyes small and inner iris slightly pigmented; spinal ganglia, adrenal medulla and dermis smaller than normal, and inner ear defects. Microphthalmia-vitiligo (mi-vi) has normal phenotype at heterozygosity, but shows gradual depigmentation of coat, skin and eyes; and retinal degeneration at homozygosity. Microphthalmia-spotted (mi-sp) shows normal phenotype; at homozygosity, however, tyrosinase activity in skin is reduced. Microphthalmia-defective irism (mi-di) has reduced retinal pigmentation at heterozygosity and shows white coat; eyes of reduced sized and possible mild osteoporosis at homozygosity. Microphthalmia-cloudy eyed (mi-ce) has a normal appearance at the heterozygous state, but shows white coat; eyes of reduced size and unpigmented at homozygosity. Microphthalmia-red-eyed white (mi-rw) has a normal appearance at the homozygous state, but shows white coat with one or more pigmented spots around the head/and or tail; eyes are small and red at heterozygosity. Microphthalmia-black-eyed white (mi-bw) shows a white coat but normal sized eyes which reamin black at homozygosity.

Function

[MITF_MOUSE] Transcription factor that regulates the expression of genes with essential roles in cell differentiation, proliferation and survival. Binds to symmetrical DNA sequences (E-boxes) (5'-CACGTG-3') found in the promoters of target genes, such as BCL2 and tyrosinase (TYR). Plays an important role in melanocyte development by regulating the expression of tyrosinase (TYR) and tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TYRP1). Plays a critical role in the differentiation of various cell types, such as neural crest-derived melanocytes, mast cells, osteoclasts and optic cup-derived retinal pigment epithelium.

References

1. ↑ Pogenberg V, Ogmundsdottir MH, Bergsteinsdottir K, Schepsky A, Phung B, Deineko V, Milewski M, Steingrimsson E, Wilmanns M. Restricted leucine zipper dimerization and specificity of DNA recognition of the melanocyte master regulator MITF. Genes Dev. 2012 Dec 1;26(23):2647-58. doi: 10.1101/gad.198192.112. PMID:23207919 doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/gad.198192.112