# Six1 Co-factors in Craniofacial Development

> **NIH NIH R01** · GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $380,001

## Abstract

Branchiootorenal spectrum disorders (BOS) are characterized by craniofacial defects that include malformation
of branchial arches (BAs), external ear, middle ear, and inner ear; a subset of patients also has kidney defects.
Two causative genes are associated with BOS diagnoses, but these genes account for fewer than half of
patient cases: the SIX1 transcription factor and a co-factor protein, EYA1, which binds to SIX1 and modifies its
transcriptional activity. Thus, the causative genes for over half of BOS patients are yet to be identified. We
hypothesize that there are other key co-factor proteins that bind to SIX1 to regulate its activity, and that
mutations in these co-factors contribute to the unknown causes of BOS. The goal of this research
program is to identify, in tractable model systems, additional genes whose altered functions contribute to the
craniofacial malformations of BOS so that these genes can ultimately be included in human genetic screening.
Using the Drosophila interactome data for the fly homologue of Six1, we identified 11 novel putative co-factors
in Xenopus and showed that most of these are expressed in the developing BAs, ear and kidney, and therefore
are potentially relevant to BOS. These proteins are highly conserved in humans, and our preliminary data show
that five of them (Sobp, Zmym2, Zmym4, 2G4, Mcrs1) are required for development of the embryonic
precursors of the branchial arches (neural crest [NC]), middle ear (NC) and inner ear (otic placode). In Aim 1,
we will use gain- and loss-of-function approaches to determine whether these candidate cofactors play a role
NC formation or migration, branchial arch cartilages or inner ear gene expression and formation. In Aim 2, we
will evaluate the biochemical interactions of these gene products with Six1 and whether they affect Six1
transcriptional function. In Aim 3, we will determine whether the known BOS mutations in SIX1 affect candidate
co-factor binding or function, and map what regions of the protein-protein interaction domains of Six1 and of
each co-factor mediate binding and transcriptional activity. Our previous work and established model systems
uniquely position us to validate whether these candidates are bone fide Six1 co-factors, and elucidate how they
contribute to normal and dysmorphic craniofacial development. These analyses will provide important
information that cannot be obtained from the limited patient material available. They also have the future
potential to explain the phenotypic variability in BOS patients and provide a rationale for including new
causative genes in BOS gene panels.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10172884
- **Project number:** 5R01DE026434-04
- **Recipient organization:** GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** DOMINIQUE R ALFANDARI
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $380,001
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-01 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10172884

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10172884, Six1 Co-factors in Craniofacial Development (5R01DE026434-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10172884. Licensed CC0.

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