Foxg1 suppresses early cortical cell fate.
During mammalian cerebral corticogenesis, progenitor cells become progressively restricted in the types of neurons they can produce. The molecular mechanism that determines earlier versus later born neuron fate is unknown. We demonstrate here that the generation of the earliest born neurons, the Cajal-Retzius cells, is suppressed by the telencephalic transcription factor Foxg1. In Foxg1 null mutants, we observed an excess of Cajal-Retzius neuron production in the cortex. By conditionally inactivating Foxg1 in cortical progenitors that normally produce deep-layer cortical neurons, we demonstrate that Foxg1 is constitutively required to suppress Cajal-Retzius cell fate. Hence, the competence to generate the earliest born neurons during later cortical development is actively suppressed but not lost.
Hanashima
Carina
C
Developmental Genetics Program and the Department of Cell Biology, The Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine, New York University Medical Center, 540 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA.
Li
Suzanne C
SC
Shen
Lijian
L
Lai
Eseng
E
Fishell
Gord
G
D000818:Animals; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000494:pharmacology; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009154:Mutation; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D000091042:Reelin Protein; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D013687:Telencephalon / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C490641:Etv1 protein, mouse; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C489562:Foxd1 protein, mouse; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000091042:Reelin Protein; D014157:Transcription Factors; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D004318:Doxycycline