Early stages of motor neuron differentiation revealed by expression of homeobox gene Islet-1.
Motor neurons in the embryonic chick spinal cord express a homeobox gene, Islet-1, soon after their final mitotic division and before the appearance of other differentiated motor neuron properties. The expression of Islet-1 by neural cells is regulated by inductive signals from the floor plate and notochord. These results establish Islet-1 as the earliest marker of developing motor neurons. The molecular nature of the Islet-1 protein suggests that it may be involved in the establishment of motor neuron fate.
Department of Microbiology, Umeå University, Sweden.
J
J
Ericson
S
S
Thor
T
T
Edlund
T M
TM
Jessell
T
T
Yamada
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004627:Embryonic Induction; D015870:Gene Expression; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009672:Notochord / Q000502:physiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000196:embryology*