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Description

Homeobox protein Meis1 (UniProt: Q60954-1, also known as Myeloid ecotropic viral integration site 1) Homeobox protein Meis2 (UniProt: P97367-2, also known as Meis1-related protein 1) are encoded by the Meis1 and Meis2 (also known as Mrg1, Stra10) genes (Gene ID: 17268 and 17536) in murine species. Meis proteins act as transcription factors that are orthologous to the Drosophila homothorax (Hth) protein. They are expressed dynamically in several organs during embryogenesis and exert potent regulatory activity through their interaction with Hox proteins and other transcription factors. Meis protein contain a TALE (three-amino-acid loop extension) sub-class of the homeodomain that binds to DNA. They directly bind to Pbx proteins and the Meis/Pbx protein complex binds to DNA through respective Meis- and Pbx-consensus binding sites to regulate transcription. The Meis/Pbx complex plays important roles during development of multiple organs. In humans and mice, three homologues Meis1, Meis2 and Meis3 have been identified. Meis1 is expressed at high levels in the lung and at lower levels in the heart and brain. On the other hand, Meis 2 displays spatially restricted expression patterns in the developing nervous system, limbs, face, and in various viscera. In adult, it is mainly expressed in the brain and female genital tract, with a different distribution of the alternative splice forms in these organs. Pancreatic beta cells express both Meis1 and 2. Both Meis1 and 2 are expressed at high levels in all stages of embryonic development of mice (day 7 to 17). Meis3 is expressed in pancreatic islets and is reported to control the expression of expression of PDK1, which promotes survival of pancreatic beta-cells. Deficiency of Meis1 or Meis 2 can lead to embryonic lethality. Meis1-deficient mice die around midgestation due to a general failure of definitive hematopoiesis. (Ref.: Machon, O et al. (2015). BMC Dev. Biol. 515:40, Azcoitia, V et al., (2005). Dev. Biol. 280 (2), 307-320).