Fate mapping reveals abnormalities in brain region-specific neuronal differentiation and migration with loss of Pitx2 function

in wildtype vs. Pitx2 EOM primordia, we found that Pitx2 is epistatic to Pax7, MyoD1 and Myog and are currently investigating Myf5 and Pax3. We have identified predicted PITX2 binding sites in regulatory elements previously shown to recapitulate expression of Myf5, MyoD1, and Myog in EOMs, suggesting that PITX2 may directly regulate these genes. We are currently testing this hypothesis. These results indicate that Pitx2 is an essential early component of the regulatory network leading to EOM specification.