Instruct: Identify the main category of Biorxiv papers based on the titles and abstracts
Query: Sobp modulates Six1 transcriptional activation and is required during craniofacial development Branchio-oto-renal syndrome (BOR) is a disorder characterized by hearing loss, craniofacial and/or renal defects. Mutations in the transcription factor Six1 and its cofactor Eya1, both required for otic development, are linked to BOR. We previously identified Sobp as a potential Six1 cofactor and SOBP mutations in mouse and humans cause otic phenotypes; therefore, we asked whether Sobp interacts with Six1 and thereby may contribute to BOR. Co-IP and immunofluorescence experiments demonstrate that Sobp binds to and co-localizes with Six1 in the cell nucleus. Luciferase assays show that Sobp represses Six1+Eya1 transcriptional activation. Experiments in Xenopus embryos that either knockdown or increase expression show that Sobp is required for formation of ectodermal domains at neural plate stages. In addition, altering Sobp levels disrupts otic vesicle development and causes craniofacial cartilage defects. Expression of Xenopus Sobp containing the human mutation disrupts the pre-placodal ectoderm similar to full-length Sobp, but other changes are distinct. These results indicate that Sobp modifies Six1 function, is required for vertebrate craniofacial development, and identifies Sobp as a potential candidate gene for BOR and other deafness syndromes.

Summary statementSobp interacts with Six1 in the cell nucleus and represses the Six1+Eya1 transcriptional activation. In Xenopus embryos, Sobp functions during early stages of inner ear development.
5
The categories of this paper are: cell
27
The categories of this paper are: pathology
13
The categories of this paper are: animal
11
The categories of this paper are: cognition
21
The categories of this paper are: toxicology
24
The categories of this paper are: cancer
32
The categories of this paper are: zoology
1
The categories of this paper are: bioinformatics
18
The categories of this paper are: systems
9
The categories of this paper are: synthetic
20
The categories of this paper are: pharmacology
3
The categories of this paper are: evolutionary
14
The categories of this paper are: biophysics
30
The categories of this paper are: scientific
26
The categories of this paper are: biochemistry
29
The categories of this paper are: education