The transcription factor dHAND is a downstream effector of BMPs in sympathetic neuron specification.
The dHAND basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor is expressed in neurons of sympathetic ganglia and has previously been shown to induce the differentiation of catecholaminergic neurons in avian neural crest cultures. We now demonstrate that dHAND expression is sufficient to elicit the generation of ectopic sympathetic neurons in vivo. The expression of the dHAND gene is controlled by bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), as suggested by BMP4 overexpression in vivo and in vitro, and by noggin-mediated inhibition of BMP function in vivo. The timing of dHAND expression in sympathetic ganglion primordia, together with the induction of dHAND expression in response to Phox2b implicate a role for dHAND as transcriptional regulator downstream of Phox2b in BMP-induced sympathetic neuron differentiation.
Howard
M J
MJ
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, OH 43614, USA.
Stanke
M
M
Schneider
C
C
Wu
X
X
Rohrer
H
H
D000818:Animals; D030161:Avian Proteins; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004843:Epistasis, Genetic; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D018257:Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D012190:Retroviridae / Q000235:genetics; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; D000099176:Noggin Protein
D030161:Avian Proteins; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D002395:Catecholamines; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; D000099176:Noggin Protein; C099107:CASH-1 protein, Gallus gallus; C410915:hand2 protein, zebrafish; C097341:helix-loop-helix protein, eHAND