<b><i>TAF1</i></b><b> is needed for the proliferation and maturation of thyroid follicle cells </b><b><i>via </i></b><b>Notch signaling</b>

Thyroid dysgenesis (TD) is the common pathogenic mechanism of congenital hypothyroidism (CH). In addition, known pathogenic genes are limited to those that are directly involved in thyroid development. To identify additional candidate pathogenetic genes, we performed forward genetic screening for TD in zebrafish, followed by positional cloning. The candidate gene was confirmed in vitro using the Nthy-ori 3.1 cell line and in vivo using a zebrafish model organism. We obtained a novel zebrafish line with thyroid dysgenesis and identified the candidate pathogenetic gene<i> taf1 </i>by positional cloning. Further molecular studies revealed that <i>taf1</i> was needed for the proliferation of thyroid follicular cells by binding to the <i>NOTCH1</i> promoter region. Knockdown of <i>TAF1</i> impaired the proliferation and maturation of thyroid cells, thereby leading to thyroid dysplasia. This study showed that <i>TAF1</i> promoted Notch signaling and that this association played a pivotal role in thyroid development.