title: Control of the temporal and spatial Uncx4.1 expression in the paraxial mesoderm of avian embryos.
abstract: Uncx4.1 is a homeobox containing transcription factor that determines the development of the pedicles of the neural arches, transverse processes and proximal ribs. In this paper we characterize the expression pattern of Uncx4.1 during chick embryogenesis with special focus on its expression in the paraxial mesoderm. In the presomitic mesoderm, Uncx4.1 is expressed in the caudal halves of the somites I and II. In the newly formed somites, Uncx4.1 expression remains in the caudal somite halves but becomes restricted to the somitocoele and the ventral epithelial wall. After somite compartmentalization, Uncx4.1 is expressed in the caudal half of the sclerotome in a well defined spatial and temporal pattern. Micromanipulations revealed that Uncx4.1 expression in the presomitic mesoderm is independent of signals from the axial structures and presumably induced by the intrinsic Notch/Delta driven oscillator activity that determines craniocaudal somite polarity. In contrast, in the maturing somite Uncx4.1 expression depends on signals from the axial structures. The notochord-floor plate complex is essential for maintaining Uncx4.1 expression in the caudal somite half. The neural tube is necessary for providing sufficient Uncx4.1 positive sclerotomal material to enable development of pedicles of the neural arches and transverse processes.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology II, Albert Ludwigs University, Albertstrasse 17, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schrägle
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Christ
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pröls
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009672:Notochord / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D012272:Ribs / Q000196:embryology; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D019170:Somites / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013131:Spine / Q000196:embryology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D014157:Transcription Factors; C108545:Uncx4.1 protein, mouse