Thyroid hormone and its receptor genes mediate critically important functions in development and in homeostasis. Our research focuses on characterizing the in vivo functions of the thyroid hormone receptor (TR) genes, using gene targeting and transgenic approaches in the mouse. Mice with an inactivated TRb gene have already been derived, which display defective pituitary function and deafness. To investigate TRb function in more detail, the relative contribution of its two N-terminal splice variants to these function is being examined. These N-terminal variants are differentially expressed and therefore, they may mediate distinct functions in vivo, providing diversity in the tissue-specific responses to thyroid hormone.

Ng L, Haugen BR, Wood WM, Curran T. N-terminal variants of thyroid hormone receptor <font face='symbol'>b</font>: differential function and potential contribution to syndrome of resistance to thyroid hormone. Mol Endocrinol 1995 Sep; 9(9): 1202-13.

Erway LC, Ng L, Altschuler R, Curran T. Thyroid hormone receptor <font face='symbol'>b</font> is essential for development of auditory function. Nat Genet 1996 Jul; 13(3): 354-7.

Gothe S, Wang Z, Ng L, Kindblom JM, Campos-Barros, Ph.D. A, Ohlsson C, Vennstrom B, Forrest D. Mice devoid of all known thyroid hormone receptors are viable but exhibit disorders of the pituitary-thyroid axis, growth, and bone maturation. Genes Dev 1999 May 15; 13(10): 1329-41.