Practice question

Neural retina originates from inner layer of optic cup and requires sustained Pax6 together with Rx, Otx2, Mitf repression and FGF signals. Pax6 directly activates neural retina determinants Vsx2, Six6 and Atoh7, promoting retinal progenitor proliferation and later genesis of ganglion and photoreceptor cells. Conditional deletion of Pax6 in optic vesicle after lens induction results in transdifferentiation toward retinal pigment epithelium expressing Mitf, loss of neural retina lamination. While Sox2, Otx2 and L-Maf function in lens or RPE, Pax6 remains indispensable for neural retina identity maintenance and differentiation into functional light-sensing tissue.