Out-foxing fate; molecular switches create neuronal diversity in the retina.
Progenitor cells in the mammalian retina generate at least 55 distinct kinds of neurons. Two reports in this issue of Neuron reveal two transcription factors (Foxn4 and Bhlhb4) that contribute to the development of this remarkable cellular diversity.
Kay
Jeremy N
JN
Department of Physiology and Programs in Neuroscience, Genetics, and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Francisco, 1550 Fourth Street, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
Baier
Herwig
H
D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D005812:Genes, Switch / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors; C455509:Bhlhb4 protein, mouse; C438622:Foxn4 protein, mouse