Chick Lrrn2, a novel downstream effector of Hoxb1 and Shh, functions in the selective targeting of rhombomere 4 motor neurons

In this paper, we show that the transcription factor GATA3 is dynamically expressed during hindbrain development. Function of GATA3 in ventral rhombomere (r) 4 is dependent on functional GATA2, which in turn is under the control of Hoxb1. In particular, the absence of Hoxb1 results in the loss of GATA2 expression in r4 and the absence of GATA2 results in the loss of GATA3 expression. The lack of GATA3 expression in r4 inhibits the projection of contralateral vestibuloacoustic efferent neurons and the migration of facial branchiomotor neurons similar to Hoxb1-deficient mice. Ubiquitous expression of Hoxb1 in the hindbrain induces ectopic expression of GATA2 and GATA3 in ventral r2 and r3. These findings demonstrate that GATA2 and GATA3 lie downstream of Hoxb1 and provide the first example of Hox pathway transcription factors within a defined population of vertebrate motor neurons.

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Polysialylated Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule Is Necessary for Selective Targeting of Regenerating Motor Neurons

Journal of Neuroscience ◽

10.1523/jneurosci.4880-04.2005 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 25 (8) ◽

pp. 2081-2091 ◽

Cited By ~ 95

Author(s):

C. K. Franz

Keyword(s):

Cell Adhesion ◽

Motor Neurons ◽

Adhesion Molecule ◽

Cell Adhesion Molecule ◽

Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule ◽

Neural Cell ◽

Neural Cell Adhesion ◽

Selective Targeting

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Critical roles of ARHGAP36 as a signal transduction mediator of Shh pathway in lateral motor columnar specification

eLife ◽

10.7554/elife.46683 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Heejin Nam ◽

Shin Jeon ◽

Hyejin An ◽

Jaeyoung Yoo ◽

Hyo-Jong Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Sonic Hedgehog ◽

Motor Neurons ◽

Floor Plate ◽

Spinal Cord Development ◽

Shh Pathway ◽

Downstream Effector ◽

Lateral Motor Column ◽

Ventral Neural Tube ◽

Transcription Factor Complex

During spinal cord development, Sonic hedgehog (Shh), secreted from the floor plate, plays an important role in the production of motor neurons by patterning the ventral neural tube, which establishes MN progenitor identity. It remains unknown, however, if Shh signaling plays a role in generating columnar diversity of MNs that connect distinct target muscles. Here, we report that Shh, expressed in MNs, is essential for the formation of lateral motor column (LMC) neurons in vertebrate spinal cord. This novel activity of Shh is mediated by its downstream effector ARHGAP36, whose expression is directly induced by the MN-specific transcription factor complex Isl1-Lhx3. Furthermore, we found that AKT stimulates the Shh activity to induce LMC MNs through the stabilization of ARHGAP36 proteins. Taken together, our data reveal that Shh, secreted from MNs, plays a crucial role in generating MN diversity via a regulatory axis of Shh-AKT-ARHGAP36 in the developing mouse spinal cord.

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Review for "Intrinsic sensory neurons provide direct input to motor neurons and interneurons in mouse distal colon via varicose baskets"

10.1002/cne.24872/v2/review1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Winfried Neuhuber

Keyword(s):

Sensory Neurons ◽

Motor Neurons ◽

Distal Colon ◽

Direct Input

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Androgen-induced plasticity at a “vocal” neuromuscular synapse

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100167895 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 52 ◽

pp. 32-33

Author(s):

Darcy B. Kelley ◽

Martha L. Tobias ◽

Mark Ellisman

Keyword(s):

Xenopus Laevis ◽

Motor Neurons ◽

Sexual Differentiation ◽

Molecular Basis ◽

Neuromuscular Synapse ◽

Sexually Dimorphic ◽

Intracellular Protein ◽

Developmental Program ◽

Androgen Action ◽

Clawed Frog

Brain and muscle are sexually differentiated tissues in which masculinization is controlled by the secretion of androgens from the testes. Sensitivity to androgen is conferred by the expression of an intracellular protein, the androgen receptor. A central problem of sexual differentiation is thus to understand the cellular and molecular basis of androgen action. We do not understand how hormone occupancy of a receptor translates into an alteration in the developmental program of the target cell. Our studies on sexual differentiation of brain and muscle in Xenopus laevis are designed to explore the molecular basis of androgen induced sexual differentiation by examining how this hormone controls the masculinization of brain and muscle targets.Our approach to this problem has focused on a highly androgen sensitive, sexually dimorphic neuromuscular system: laryngeal muscles and motor neurons of the clawed frog, Xenopus laevis. We have been studying sex differences at a synapse, the laryngeal neuromuscular junction, which mediates sexually dimorphic vocal behavior in Xenopus laevis frogs.

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