title: Pax3 and Pax7 are expressed in commissural neurons and restrict ventral neuronal identity in the spinal cord.
abstract: Pax3 and Pax7 are transcription factors sharing high sequence identity and overlapping patterns of expression in particular in the dorsal spinal cord. Analysis of Pax3 and Pax7 double mutant mice demonstrates that both genes share redundant functions to restrict ventral neuronal identity in the spinal cord. In their absence, the En1 expression domain is expanded dorsally but that of Evx1 is not affected. In addition, Pax3 and Pax7 are expressed in commissural neurons and double mutant embryos exhibit highly reduced ventral commissure. Our findings reveal two distinct regulatory pathways for spinal cord neurogenesis, only one of which is dependent on Pax3/7 and 6.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Am Fassberg 11, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mansouri
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gruss
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000196:embryology; D019070:Cell Lineage; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005326:Fetal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008818:Mice, Neurologic Mutants; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072041:PAX3 Transcription Factor; D051763:PAX7 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D060508:Wnt3 Protein; D060528:Wnt4 Protein; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C513076:EN1 protein, human; C080330:En1 protein, mouse; C489555:Evx1 protein, mouse; D005326:Fetal Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000072041:PAX3 Transcription Factor; C489409:PAX3 protein, human; D051763:PAX7 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; C497322:Pax7 protein, mouse; D011506:Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C555581:WNT4 protein, human; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D060508:Wnt3 Protein; D060528:Wnt4 Protein; C555582:Wnt4 protein, mouse; C068686:Pax3 protein, mouse; D001616:beta-Galactosidase