title: Otx2's incredible journey.
abstract: A surprising new mechanism that regulates the plasticity of postnatal neurons is reported in this issue by Sugiyama et al. (2008). These authors show in mice that visual experience triggers cell-to-cell transfer of the homeoprotein Otx2 to cortical interneurons, where it promotes maturation of inhibitory neural circuitry and opens the critical period for plasticity in the visual cortex.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, 630 W. 168(th) Street, 14-509 P&S Building, New York, NY 10032, USA. adr2111@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rebsam
authors.forename: Carol A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Mason
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007395:Interneurons / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D051857:Otx Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D012683:Sensory Deprivation; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C497659:OTX2 protein, human; D051857:Otx Transcription Factors