Relax promotes ectopic neuronal differentiation in Xenopus embryos.
We previously isolated a novel rat cDNA encoding a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor named Relax, whose expression in the developing central nervous system is strictly limited to discrete domains containing precursor cells. The timing of Relax expression coincides with neuronal differentiation. To investigate the involvement of Relax in neurogenesis we tested whether Relax activated neural genes in the ectoderm by injecting Relax RNA into Xenopus embryos. We demonstrate that ectopic Relax expression induces a persistent enlargement of the neural plate and converts presumptive epidermal cells into neurons. This indicates that Relax, when overexpressed in Xenopus embryos, has a neuronal fate-determination function. Analyses both of Relax overexpression in the frog and of the distribution of Relax in the rat neural tube strongly suggest that Relax is a neuronal fate-determination gene.
Ravassard
P
P
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMRC9923, Bâtiment C.E.R.V.I., Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière, 83 Bd de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France.
Vallin
J
J
Mallet
J
J
Icard-Liepkalns
C
C
D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018257:Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs / Q000235:genetics; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009420:Nervous System / Q000196:embryology*; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics*; D014981:Xenopus / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012313:RNA; D015534:Trans-Activators; C498696:Neurog3 protein, rat