Potential target genes of EMX2 include Odz/Ten-M and other gene families with implications for cortical patterning.
EMX2 and PAX6 are expressed by cortical progenitors and specify area patterning. We used representational difference analysis (RDA) to compare expressed RNAs from wild type and Emx2-/- cortex and identified 41 unique clones. Using secondary screening by in situ hybridization, we selected five genes for further analysis, Cdk4, Cofilin1, Crmp1, ME2, and Odz4, involved in neuronal proliferation, differentiation, migration, and axon guidance. Each exhibits differential expression in wild type cortex. Odz4 is one of four members of a vertebrate gene family homologous to the Drosophila pair-rule patterning gene, Odd Oz (Odz), a transmembrane receptor. We show that Odz genes are expressed in complementary patterns in cortex, as well as in nuclei-specific patterns in thalamus that relates to their area-unique cortical expression. In addition, each of the genes analyzed shows different expression patterns in wild type cortex, Emx2, and Pax6 mutant cortex, consistent with potential roles in area patterning. These findings identify potential targets of EMX2 that might account for its function and the defects in Emx2-/- cortex, and suggest that the Odz family of transmembrane proteins influences cortical area patterning downstream to EMX2 and PAX6.
Li
Hao
H
Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, The Salk Institute, 10010 N. Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Bishop
Kathie M
KM
O'Leary
Dennis D M
DD
D000818:Animals; D051778:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology*; D051338:Cofilin 1 / Q000235:genetics; D051358:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4 / Q000235:genetics; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000235:genetics*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D011247:Pregnancy; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051820:TCF Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D019063:Tenascin; D000073940:Transcription Factor 4; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000099260:Empty Spiracles Homeobox Proteins; D000098855:Collapsin Response Mediator Protein 1
D051778:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors; D051338:Cofilin 1; D051358:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4; D005136:Eye Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D051820:TCF Transcription Factors; D019063:Tenascin; D000073940:Transcription Factor 4; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000099260:Empty Spiracles Homeobox Proteins; C495811:Cfl1 protein, mouse; C502872:Crmp1 protein, mouse; D000098855:Collapsin Response Mediator Protein 1; C000605732:Pax6 protein, mouse; C090743:Tcf4 protein, mouse; C113761:Tenm4 protein, mouse; C120530:teneurin-1; C495902:Cdk4 protein, mouse