Department
Biological Sciences
Location
Bethel University
Document Type
Poster
Start Date
2-25-2026 4:00 PM
End Date
2-25-2026 5:00 PM
Abstract
During development the expression of numerous genes is required to direct the proper formation of cells, tissues and organs. One special class of genes, transcription factors, code for proteins which regulate the expression of multiple genes to ensure tissues and organs develop at the right time and place. One transcription factor, NKX2-1, is necessary for proper lung formation in vertebrates. We investigated if NKX2-1, on its own, could drive the formation of lung tissue in the frog, Xenopus laevis. Both frog and human NKX2-1 was able to cause the formation of pulmonary tissue, examined by the expression of lung specific genes, not only in regions where the lung normally develops, but also in locations where the lung does not normally develop. In addition, this ability to induce pulmonary tissue occurred across developmental time, suggesting that NKX2-1, as a single transcription factor, can respecify tissue to a pulmonary fate. The results obtained from both frog and human NKX2-1 provides the opportunity to investigate how mutations in the human NKX2-1 gene, which are associated with lung disorders and defects, may affect its transcriptional activity.
Recommended Citation
Hyatt, Brian; Lundberg, Erin; Eye, Rachael; Rankin, Scott; and Zorn, Aaron M., "Temporal induction of the homeodomain transcription factor Nkx2-1 is sufficient to respecify foregut and hindgut endoderm to a pulmonary fate in Xenopus laevis" (2026). Wednesday, February 25, 2026. 5.
https://spark.bethel.edu/dayofscholarship/spring2026/spr2026/5
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Included in
Temporal induction of the homeodomain transcription factor Nkx2-1 is sufficient to respecify foregut and hindgut endoderm to a pulmonary fate in Xenopus laevis
Bethel University
During development the expression of numerous genes is required to direct the proper formation of cells, tissues and organs. One special class of genes, transcription factors, code for proteins which regulate the expression of multiple genes to ensure tissues and organs develop at the right time and place. One transcription factor, NKX2-1, is necessary for proper lung formation in vertebrates. We investigated if NKX2-1, on its own, could drive the formation of lung tissue in the frog, Xenopus laevis. Both frog and human NKX2-1 was able to cause the formation of pulmonary tissue, examined by the expression of lung specific genes, not only in regions where the lung normally develops, but also in locations where the lung does not normally develop. In addition, this ability to induce pulmonary tissue occurred across developmental time, suggesting that NKX2-1, as a single transcription factor, can respecify tissue to a pulmonary fate. The results obtained from both frog and human NKX2-1 provides the opportunity to investigate how mutations in the human NKX2-1 gene, which are associated with lung disorders and defects, may affect its transcriptional activity.