Determination of the migratory capacity of embryonic cortical cells lacking the transcription factor Pax-6.
The cerebral cortex forms by the orderly migration and subsequent differentiation of neuronal precursors generated in the proliferative ventricular zone. We studied the role of the transcription factor Pax-6, which is expressed in the ventricular zone, in cortical development. Embryos homozygous for a mutation of Pax-6 (Small eye; Sey) had abnormalities suggesting defective migration of late-born cortical precursors. When late-born Sey/Sey precursors were transplanted into wild-type embryonic rat cortex, they showed similar integrative, migrational and differentiative abilities to those of transplanted wild-type mouse precursors. These results suggest that postmitotic cortical cells do not need Pax-6 to acquire the capacity to migrate and differentiate, but that Pax-6 generates a cortical environment that permits later-born precursors to express their full developmental potential.
Carić
D
D
MRC Human Genetics Unit, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK.
Gooday
D
D
Hill
R E
RE
McConnell
S K
SK
Price
D J
DJ
D000818:Animals; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000032:analysis; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005124:Eye Abnormalities; D005136:Eye Proteins; D005260:Female; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D008818:Mice, Neurologic Mutants; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D017354:Point Mutation / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D013687:Telencephalon / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014404:Tubulin / Q000032:analysis
D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D039841:Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; C000605730:PAX6 protein, human; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; C000605732:Pax6 protein, mouse; C000605733:Pax6 protein, rat; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014404:Tubulin