R-cadherin is a Pax6-regulated, growth-promoting cue for pioneer axons.
The transcription factor Pax6 has been implicated in two processes that may be related in brain development: establishment of regional cell adhesion properties and axon guidance. In Pax6 mutant mouse embryos, forebrain pioneer axons make pathfinding errors. These errors occur in a region of the ventral thalamus in which the expression of the cell adhesion molecule R-cadherin (Cdh4) is lost in Pax6 mutants. In vitro, an R-cadherin substrate promoted pioneer axon outgrowth. Furthermore, pioneer axon outgrowth was rescued in vivo by selective replacement of R-cadherin by electroporation into cultured Pax6 mutant embryos. Thus, these studies implicate Pax6 as an early brain patterning gene that establishes regional adhesive codes to guide pioneer axons.
Department of Biology, Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA.
Gracie L
GL
Andrews
Grant S
GS
Mastick
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D003463:Cues; D005136:Eye Proteins; D005865:Gestational Age; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006720:Homozygote; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins
D015820:Cadherins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; C000605732:Pax6 protein, mouse; C083970:R-cadherin; D012097:Repressor Proteins