Gene expression differences between wildtype and Atrx conditional knockout mouse retina tissues

Loss of the Atrx chromatin remodeling protein causes dysfunction and death of post-mitotic retinal interneurons in mice. Embryonic conditional deletion of Atrx from multipotent retinal progenitor cells results in the selective loss of the retinal inhibitory interneurons, namely amacrine and horizontal cells. The cell death occurs postnatally after the development of these cell types, peaking at postntal day 17 in the mouse retina. Identification of molecular factors and pathways that mediate the health and survival of these neurons may suggest novel therapeutic strategies for neuroprotection in ATR-X syndrome and other neurodegenerative diseases.

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