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.
Andrews
Gracie L
GL
Department of Biology, Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Program, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada 89557, USA.
Mastick
Grant S
GS
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