Conserved cardiogenic functions of the multitype zinc-finger proteins: U-shaped and FOG-2.

Multitype zinc-finger proteins murine Friend of GATA-2 (FOG-2) and Drosophila U-shaped (Ush) are required for heart development. Both FOG proteins participate in signal transduction pathways that are essential for cardiogenesis. FOG-2 regulates signaling from the myocardium, which is required for the production of the coronary vasculature. Ush functions in a common pathway with the Heartless (Htl) fibroblast growth factor (FGF) receptor to control mesodermal cell migration, which is required for cardiogenic cell fate commitment. In vitro studies have demonstrated that both FOG proteins repress GATA factor transcriptional activation of cardiac promoters. These similarities provide further evidence for the conservation of gene functions during cardiogenesis in Drosophila and higher eukaryotes.