Differential use of the Nkx2.2 NK2 domain in developing pancreatic islets and neurons

Abstract

The homeodomain transcription factor (TF) Nkx2.2 governs crucial cell fate decisions in several developing organs, including the central nervous system (CNS), pancreas, and intestine. How Nkx2.2 regulates unique targets in these different systems to impact their individual transcriptional programs remains unclear. In this issue ofGenes & DevelopmentAbarinov and colleagues (pp. 490–504) generated and analyzed mice in which the Nkx2.2 SD is mutated and found that the SD is required for normal pancreatic islet differentiation but dispensable for most aspects of neuronal differentiation.