The restricted expression pattern of the POU factor Oct-6 during early development of the mouse nervous system.
Oct-6 is a POU transcription factor that is thought to play a role in the differentiation of cells of neuroectodermal origin. To investigate whether the Oct-6 protein could play a role in the establishment of neuroectoderm in vivo we studied the expression of the Oct-6 protein during early mouse development. Expression is first observed in the primitive ectoderm of the egg cylinder stage embryo. In gastrulating embryos, Oct-6 protein is found in the extra-embryonic ectoderm of the chorion and the anterior ectoderm of the embryo proper. As development proceeds, Oct-6 expression becomes more restricted to the anterior medial part of the embryo until Oct-6 positive cells are observed only in the neural groove of the headfold stage embryo. In the late headfold stage embryo, Oct-6 expression is detected in the neuroepithelium of the entire brain and later is restricted to a more ventral and anterior position. As the anterior neuropore closes, Oct-6 protein is detected in a segment-like pattern in the mid-and forebrain. Thus, the expression pattern of the Oct-6 gene agrees with a role for the Oct-6 protein in the establishment and regional specification of the neuroectoderm in vivo. The two waves of widespread induction of the Oct-6 gene, one in the primitive ectoderm and another in the primitive brain, both followed by a progressive restriction in the expression patterns suggest a mechanism for the regulation of the gene.
Zwart
R
R
MGC-Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Broos
L
L
Grosveld
G
G
Meijer
D
D
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D050816:Octamer Transcription Factor-6; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C494180:Pou3f1 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors; D050816:Octamer Transcription Factor-6