Transcription factor cascades in congenital heart malformation

New observations reveal that GATA-4 mutations are one underlying cause of human cardiac septal defects. Recent data has shed light on a potential multiprotein complex formed by GATA-4, TBX5 and NKX2.5, which might act synergistically to transcriptionally regulate other cardiac specific genes. The addition of GATA-4 to the list of genes involved in human congenital heart malformation prompts consideration of how modern molecular genetic advances should be applied to clinical care.