Tcf3 inhibits spinal cord neurogenesis by regulating sox4a expression.
The Lef/Tcf factor Tcf3 is expressed throughout the developing vertebrate central nervous system (CNS), but its function and transcriptional targets are uncharacterized. Tcf3 is thought to mediate canonical Wnt signaling, which functions in CNS patterning, proliferation and neurogenesis. In this study, we examine Tcf3 function in the zebrafish spinal cord, and find that this factor does not play a general role in patterning, but is required for the proper expression of Dbx genes in intermediate progenitors. In addition, we show that Tcf3 is required to inhibit premature neurogenesis in spinal progenitors by repressing sox4a, a known mediator of spinal neurogenesis. Both of these functions are mediated by Tcf3 independently of canonical Wnt signaling. Together, our data indicate a novel mechanism for the regulation of neurogenesis by Tcf3-mediated repression.
Gribble
Suzanna L
SL
Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.
Kim
Hyung-Seok
HS
Bonner
Jennifer
J
Wang
Xu
X
Dorsky
Richard I
RI
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001483:Base Sequence; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D009154:Mutation; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D055751:SOXC Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051820:TCF Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D058125:Transcription Factor 7-Like 1 Protein; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015053:Zygote / Q000378:metabolism
D017931:DNA Primers; D055751:SOXC Transcription Factors; D051820:TCF Transcription Factors; D058125:Transcription Factor 7-Like 1 Protein