COUP-TFs and eye development

Recent studies reveal that COUP-TF genes are essential for neural development, cardiovascular development, energy metabolism and adipogenesis, as well as for organogenesis of multiple systems. In this review, we mainly describe the COUP-TF genes, molecular mechanisms of COUP-TF action, and their crucial functions in the morphogenesis of the murine eye. Mutations of COUP-TF genes lead to the congenital coloboma and/or optic atrophy in both mouse and human, indicating that the study on COUP-TFs and the eye will benefit our understanding of the etiology of human ocular diseases. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Nuclear receptors in animal development.