Opposing Functions of the ETS Factor Family Define Shh Spatial Expression in Limb Buds and Underlie Polydactyly

Lettice, Laura A. and Williamson, Iain and Wiltshire, John H. and Peluso, Silvia and Devenney, Paul S. and Hill, Alison E. and Essafi, Abdelkader and Hagman, James and Mort, Richard and Grimes, Graeme and DeAngelis, Carlo L. and Hill, Robert E. (2012) Opposing Functions of the ETS Factor Family Define Shh Spatial Expression in Limb Buds and Underlie Polydactyly. Developmental Cell, 22 (2). pp. 459-467. ISSN 1534-5807

Abstract

Sonic hedgehog (Shh) expression during limb development is crucial for specifying the identity and number of digits. The spatial pattern of Shh expression is restricted to a region called the zone of polarizing activity (ZPA), and this expression is controlled from a long distance by the cis-regulator ZRS. Here, members of two groups of ETS transcription factors are shown to act directly at the ZRS mediatinga differential effect on Shh, defining its spatial expression pattern. Occupancy at multiple GABPα/ETS1 sites regulates the position of the ZPA boundary, whereas ETV4/ETV5 binding restricts expression outside the ZPA. The ETS gene family is therefore attributed with specifying the boundaries of the classical ZPA. Two point mutations within the ZRS change the profile of ETS binding and activate Shh expression at an ectopic site in the limb bud. These molecular changes define a pathogenetic mechanism that leads to preaxial polydactyly (PPD). A long-range limb-specific enhancer controls Sonic hedgehog expression in a spatiotemporally restricted manner. Lettice etal. identify ETS-binding sites within this enhancer that mediate antagonistic interactions between different ETS transcription factor clades. Mutations in the enhancer that change the balance of power between ETS factors cause limb abnormalities.