Pax-2 in the chiasm.
Pax genes are expressed in specific patterns in the nervous system during development and in the adult. Recent findings suggest a link between the expression of Pax-2 and axonal guidance. Mice with a targeted deletion of Pax-2 are an excellent tool for studying axonal pathfinding at the molecular level, especially with respect to the optic chiasm. The date reviewed here suggest that Pax-2 regulates the expression of surface molecules involved in contact attraction and that the mutual regulation of the expression of Pax-2 and the Sonic hedgehog gene is of importance in the formation of the chiasm region.
Alvarez-Bolado
G
G
Max-Planck Institut für biophysikalische Chemie, Abt. Molekulare Zellbiologie 160, Am Fassberg, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany.
Schwarz
M
M
Gruss
P
P
D000818:Animals; D001370:Axonal Transport; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; D009897:Optic Chiasm / Q000502:physiology*; D051762:PAX2 Transcription Factor; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051762:PAX2 Transcription Factor; C497318:PAX2 protein, human; C497319:Pax2 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors