Regulation of neurogenesis by interactions between HEN1 and neuronal LMO proteins.
Basic-helix-loop-helix transcription factors regulate neurogenesis and neuronal differentiation by as yet unknown mechanisms. We show that an embryonic neuronal-specific basic-helix-loop-helix protein, HEN1 (also known as NSCL1 or NHLH), interacts with 'LIM only' proteins. Examination of the expression patterns of XHEN1 and XLMO-3, the Xenopus homologues of these human genes, reveals extensive overlap during early neurogenesis: at the onset of gastrulation on the dorsal side of the blastopore lip and, subsequently, in the prospective neural plate. Binding of XLMO-3 increases the transcriptional activity of XHEN1 in vivo. Co-expression of these two genes in Xenopus embryos induces a cascade of expression of neuronal-specific basic-helix-loop-helix proteins that leads to neuronal differentiation. We propose that XHEN1, in concert with XLMO-3, is a critical regulator of neurogenesis.
Bao
J
J
The Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Talmage
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Gautier
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J
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018257:Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D014404:Tubulin / Q000235:genetics; D014981:Xenopus / Q000196:embryology; D015003:Yeasts / Q000235:genetics
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014404:Tubulin; C105389:NEUROG1 protein, human; C076746:NHLH1 protein, human; C093564:Neurogenic differentiation factor 1