EMX2 is expressed in the epithelia of the developing excretory and reproductive systems (inferred from the mouse homolog in Pellegrini et al. 1997, Yu et al. 2012). PAX2 binds and activates expression of the EMX2 gene in the developing nephric duct (inferred from mouse homologs in Boualia et al. 2011). Beta-catenin (CTNNB1) from Wnt signaling and LHX1, a key regulator of kidney development, also activate expression (inferred from mouse homologs). In mouse embryos, Emx2 feeds back to activate expression of Lhx1, forming a stable expression loop (Miyamoto et al. 1997).