title: Bsx, an evolutionary conserved Brain Specific homeoboX gene expressed in the septum, epiphysis, mammillary bodies and arcuate nucleus.
abstract: Shaping and orchestrating the genetic program involved in embryonic modelling of brain structures is a major function played by homeobox containing genes. Recently, analysis of conditional mouse mutants has pointed out additional roles in supporting adult brain functional activities. During a search for novel homeobox genes in the public released genomic sequences derived by the Human and Mouse genome projects, we were able to identify the mouse homologue of the Drosophila brain specific homeobox gene. We named it Bsx and characterized its expression in embryonic and post-natal mouse brain. Interestingly, Bsx shows an expression pattern restricted to a few specific developing brain structures. Pineal gland, telencephalic septum, hypothalamic pre-mammillary body and arcuate nucleus are the only brain structures where we detected Bsx transcriptional activity, which is maintained also after birth. In particular, Bsx might be considered an important molecular marker for early embryonic stages of epiphysis development, being specifically expressed in this neural structure from E9.5 onwards.
authors.affiliation: Stem Cell Research Institute, DIBIT, San Raffaele Science Park Via Olgettina 58, Milan 20132, Italy.
authors.forename: Mattia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cremona
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andreazzoli
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cossu
authors.forename: Vania
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Broccoli
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001111:Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D017124:Conserved Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D004838:Epiphyses / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005801:Genes, Homeobox / Q000235:genetics*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008326:Mammillary Bodies / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020665:Septum of Brain / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
chemical_list: C492588:Bsx protein, mouse; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger