Primary neurogenesis in Xenopus embryos regulated by a homologue of the Drosophila neurogenic gene Delta.
X-Delta-1, a Xenopus homologue of the Drosophila Delta gene, is expressed in the early embryonic nervous system in scattered cells that appear to be the prospective primary neurons. Ectopic X-Delta-1 activity inhibits production of primary neurons and interference with endogenous X-Delta-1 activity results in overproduction of primary neurons. These results indicate that the X-Delta-1 protein mediates lateral inhibition delivered by prospective neurons to adjacent cells, and that commitment to a neural fate in vertebrates is regulated by Delta-Notch signalling as in Drosophila.
Chitnis
A
A
Salk Institute for Biological Studies, San Diego, California 92186, USA.
Henrique
D
D
Lewis
J
J
Ish-Horowicz
D
D
Kintner
C
C
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000196:embryology*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000235:genetics; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017344:Genes, Insect; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014404:Tubulin / Q000235:genetics; D014981:Xenopus / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C497759:N protein, Drosophila; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D014404:Tubulin; C064045:delta protein