title: Vertebrate neurogenesis is counteracted by Sox1-3 activity.
abstract: The generation of neurons from stem cells involves the activity of proneural basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins, but the mechanism by which these proteins irreversibly commit stem cells to neuronal differentiation is not known. Here we report that expression of the transcription factors Sox1, Sox2 and Sox3 (Sox1-3) is a critical determinant of neurogenesis. Using chick in ovo electroporation, we found that Sox1-3 transcription factors keep neural cells undifferentiated by counteracting the activity of proneural proteins. Conversely, the capacity of proneural bHLH proteins to direct neuronal differentiation critically depends on their ability to suppress Sox1-3 expression in CNS progenitors. These data suggest that the generation of neurons from stem cells depends on the inhibition of Sox1-3 expression by proneural proteins.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030161:Avian Proteins; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D004330:Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018274:Electroporation / Q000379:methods; D004627:Embryonic Induction; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D024002:HMGB Proteins; D018257:Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs / Q000502:physiology; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D051763:PAX7 Transcription Factor; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000378:metabolism; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000378:metabolism; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D013234:Stem Cells; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism; D014714:Vertebrates
chemical_list: D030161:Avian Proteins; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D024002:HMGB Proteins; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D051763:PAX7 Transcription Factor; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D055748:SOXB1 Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014404:Tubulin; C099107:CASH-1 protein, Gallus gallus; C063459:En protein, Drosophila; C516210:ISL2 protein, human; C091135:Isl-2 protein, vertebrate; C558561:Isl2 protein, mouse; C489025:Lim2 protein, mouse; C491183:NEUROG2 protein, human; C108527:NeuroM protein, chicken; C102938:Neurog2 protein, mouse; C497322:Pax7 protein, mouse; C490906:SOX1 protein, human; C098693:Sox1 protein, mouse; C527783:Sox2 protein, mouse; C527786:Sox3 protein, mouse; C462941:beta3 tubulin, mouse; C063843:insulin gene enhancer binding protein Isl-1; C486336:Neurog1 protein, mouse