Figure 7.

Summary of Lhx1 functional roles. (A) At LB stages, DE cells (white) normally migrate onto the outer surface, dispersing the VE (green) cells. In Lhx1ΔEpi mutants, the overlying VE is not properly dispersed, leaving pockets enriched with VE-derived cells. (B) At the EHF stage, the midline and node have emerged to form a continuous layer with the endoderm. In Lhx1ΔEpi mutants, VE-derived cells remain overlying the midline and posterior node. (C) Hypothetical model showing Lhx1 DNA binding at enhancers together with Otx2 acting as a pioneer factor to recruit higher-order Lhx1–Ldb1–Ssbp3 complexes and promote Foxa2 binding to promoter regions and activate transcription of target genes.