Regulation of area identity in the mammalian neocortex by Emx2 and Pax6.
The contribution of extrinsic and genetic mechanisms in determining areas of the mammalian neocortex has been a contested issue. This study analyzes the roles of the regulatory genes Emx2 and Pax6, which are expressed in opposing gradients in the neocortical ventricular zone, in specifying areas. Changes in the patterning of molecular markers and area-specific connections between the cortex and thalamus suggest that arealization of the neocortex is disproportionately altered in Emx2 and Pax6 mutant mice in opposing manners predicted from their countergradients of expression: rostral areas expand and caudal areas contract in Emx2 mutants, whereas the opposite effect is seen in Pax6 mutants. These findings suggest that Emx2 and Pax6 cooperate to regulate arealization of the neocortex and to confer area identity to cortical cells.
Bishop
K M
KM
Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Goudreau
G
G
O'Leary
D D
DD
D000818:Animals; D001931:Brain Mapping; D015820:Cadherins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005136:Eye Proteins; D015870:Gene Expression; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D005809:Genes, Regulator; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D009024:Morphogenesis; D019579:Neocortex / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009434:Neural Pathways; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D013788:Thalamus / Q000196:embryology; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D000099260:Empty Spiracles Homeobox Proteins
D015820:Cadherins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000099260:Empty Spiracles Homeobox Proteins; C504541:Cdh8 protein, mouse; C000605732:Pax6 protein, mouse; C087310:K cadherin