title: The POU domain gene, XlPOU 2 is an essential downstream determinant of neural induction.
abstract: The POU domain gene, XlPOU 2, acts as a transcriptional activator during mid-gastrulation in Xenopus. Overexpression or misexpression of VP16-POU-GR, a fusion protein consisting of the strong activator domain of VP16 and the POU domain of XlPOU 2, results in ectopic expression of the neural-specific genes, nrp-1, en-2, and beta-tubulin. In contrast, overexpressing a dominant-inhibitory form of XlPOU 2 inhibits the chordin-induced neuralization of uncommitted ectoderm, and results in a loss of nrp-1 and en-2 expression in embryos. Furthermore, in uncommitted ectoderm, XlPOU 2 regulates the developmental neural program that includes a number of pre-pattern genes and at least one proneural gene, X-ngnr-1, thus playing a key role during neural determination.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda 20892, USA. mami@helix.nih.gov
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuo-Takasaki
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sato
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000196:embryology; D004475:Ectoderm; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D004627:Embryonic Induction / Q000235:genetics*; D005775:Gastrula; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005799:Genes, Dominant; D006023:Glycoproteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics; D050809:POU Domain Factors; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000196:embryology*; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D050809:POU Domain Factors; D011506:Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C490059:POU3F4 protein, Xenopus; C116546:Zic1 protein, Xenopus; C109036:Zic3 protein, Xenopus; C101907:neurogenin, Xenopus; C492121:zic1 protein, zebrafish; C054234:chordin