Figure 3

Putative interactions among developmental genes inferred from the comparison of several knockout models of ovarian dysgenesis. Arrows indicate positive interactions. Most cases of competitive or antagonistic interactions are not represented, because all genes except Sox9 and Dhh can be connected by (positive) arrows with at least an ovarian gene. Sox9 and Dhh are not induced by any of the ovarian genes that have been functionally tested, and are antagonized specifically by Foxl2 and Wnt4. Color coding is purely indicative of overall gonadal expression and/or function (legend is at the bottom). Note that inferences regarding direct or indirect regulatory biochemical interactions cannot be derived from this type of analysis: arrows only indicate the apparent requirement of a gene (to which the arrow points) for the function of another gene (from which the arrow originates) as assessed in knockout mice. This identifies a putative target-regulator connection. Line thickness indicates the degree of statistical association between the putative target gene and the putative regulator.