Eyes Absent Homolog 2 (EYA2)

EYA2 may be post-translationally modified and may play a role in eye development. A similar protein in mice can act as a transcriptional activator. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants, but the full-length natures of all of these variants have not yet been determined. Eya2 shows a dynamic pattern of expression during mouse development. Its expression was first detected in 8.5-day embryos in the region of head ectoderm fated to become the forebrain. At later stages of development, Eya2 was expressed in the olfactory placode and in a variety of neural crest derivatives. In the eye, expression of Eya2 was first detected after formation of the lens vesicle. At day 17.5, the highest level of Eya2 mRNA was observed in primary lens fibers. Low levels of Eya2 expression were detected in retina, sclera, and cornea.