GDF11 controls the timing of progenitor cell competence in developing retina.
The orderly generation of cell types in the developing retina is thought to be regulated by changes in the competence of multipotent progenitors. Here, we show that a secreted factor, growth and differentiation factor 11 (GDF11), controls the numbers of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), as well as amacrine and photoreceptor cells, that form during development. GDF11 does not affect proliferation of progenitors-a major mode of GDF11 action in other tissues-but instead controls duration of expression of Math5, a gene that confers competence for RGC genesis, in progenitor cells. Thus, GDF11 governs the temporal windows during which multipotent progenitors retain competence to produce distinct neural progeny.
Kim
Joon
J
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
Wu
Hsiao-Huei
HH
Lander
Arthur D
AD
Lyons
Karen M
KM
Matzuk
Martin M
MM
Calof
Anne L
AL
D025042:Amacrine Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002452:Cell Count; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D025461:Feedback, Physiological; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D055412:Growth Differentiation Factors; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D039902:Multipotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D009154:Mutation; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D017948:Retinal Rod Photoreceptor Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D055412:Growth Differentiation Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C499317:Ascl1 protein, mouse; C117638:Atoh7 protein, mouse; C119153:Gdf11 protein, mouse; C093564:Neurogenic differentiation factor 1