Figure 3

Deletion of Ctnnb1 prevents the ectopic expression of ciliary epithelium (CE) genes in Sox2- mutant cells. Transverse sections of P0 eyes were analyzed for CE fate. (A, D, G, J) Low magnification view of β-Catenin/GFP-stained eyes indicates hypoplasia of Sox2 single-mutants (G) and Sox2/Ctnnb1 double-mutants (J) compared with Ctnnb1^{lox(ex2–6)/lox(ex2–6)} single-mutants (D) and wild-type littermates (A). (B - C ” ) In situ hybridization of Bmp4 (C) and Msx1 (D) shows specific expression of these genes in GFP-positive (B”) and β-galactosidase (β-gal)-positive (C”) CE of wild-type controls. (E-F”) Bmp4 (E) and Msx1 (F) are not expressed in the GFP-positive (E”, arrow) and β-gal-positive (F”, arrow) CE of Ctnnb1 single-mutants. (H-I”) Conversely, Bmp4 (H) and Msx1 (I) are ectopically expressed in the GFP-positive (H”, closed arrowheads) and β-gal-positive (I”, closed arrowheads) central optic cup (OC) of Sox2 single-mutants. (K-L”) Ectopic expression of Bmp4 (K) and Msx1 (L) is rescued in the GFP-positive (K”, closed arrowheads) and β-gal-positive (L”, closed arrowheads) central OC of Sox2/Ctnnb1 double-mutants. Open arrowheads indicate faint expression of CE genes at the periphery of the NR of double-mutants. Boxes in ( B-C), (E-F), (H-I) and (K- L) are magnified in ’ and ”. Scale bars: 100 μm.