title: Common developmental requirement for Olig function indicates a motor neuron/oligodendrocyte connection.
abstract: The oligodendrocyte lineage genes Olig1 and Olig2 encode related bHLH proteins that are coexpressed in neural progenitors. Targeted disruption of these two genes sheds light on the ontogeny of oligodendroglia and genetic requirements for their development from multipotent CNS progenitors. Olig2 is required for oligodendrocyte and motor neuron specification in the spinal cord. Olig1 has roles in development and maturation of oligodendrocytes, evident especially within the brain. Both Olig genes contribute to neural pattern formation. Neither Olig gene is required for astrocytes. These findings, together with fate mapping analysis of Olig-expressing cells, indicate that oligodendrocytes are derived from Olig-specified progenitors that give rise also to neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, 44 Binney Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Q Richard
authors.initials: QR
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Zhimin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Meritxell
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: Charles D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Stiles
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Rowitch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation / Q000502:physiology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000076104:Oligodendrocyte Transcription Factor 2; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012249:Rhombencephalon / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000076104:Oligodendrocyte Transcription Factor 2; C494786:Olig1 protein, mouse; C512773:Olig2 protein, mouse