Roles of Sox factors in neural determination: conserved signaling in evolution?
Neural differentiation in amphibian embryos is initiated by the neural inducers emanating from the Spemann-Mangold organizer. The fate of uncommitted ectoderm is determined by graded BMP activity along the dorsal-ventral axis. Several transcriptional regulators acting in early neural differentiation have been identified, including Sox, Zic, Pou, HLH and Fox factors. In this paper, I review recent molecular studies on neural determination, focusing mainly on Sox factors. I also discuss the possible conservation of regulatory factors in neural differentiation, comparing Xenopus and Drosophila counterparts.
Sasai
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Department of Medical Embryology and Neurobiology, Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Japan. sasai@phy.med.kyoto-u.ac.jp
D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D024002:HMGB Proteins; D009420:Nervous System / Q000196:embryology*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014981:Xenopus / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D029867:Xenopus Proteins
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D024002:HMGB Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; C527781:sox2 protein, Xenopus