PurposeThe aim of this study was to evaluate downstream factors of Pax6 associated with the aniridic corneal phenotype. We characterize the ocular expression ofRaver2, a novel heterogeneous ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP).MethodsGenome wide microarrays of corneal RNA from non-aniridic mice (C57BL/6J and MRL/MpJ) and corneas from aniridia model, Pax6+/-(SEY) mice were performed.Raver2expression profiles were validated using qPCR and western blot. Raver2 immunohistochemistry on corneas of Pax6+/-mice and aniridic humans were compared to control specimens, and insitu-hybridization was used to analyze developmental expression ofRaver2.ResultsMicroarray analysis of corneal RNA identifiedRaver2as the gene with the strongest differential expression profile across non-aniridic and aniridic mouse strains. Consistent with mouse data, we found thatRaver2is expressed at high levels in healthy human corneal epithelium, and is downregulated in the corneas of human aniridia patients.ConclusionsThese findings suggest thatRaver2has an evolutionarily conserved developmental role downstream ofPax6in corneal development and maintenance.