Fezf2 directs the differentiation of corticofugal neurons from striatal progenitors in vivo.
In the developing cerebral cortex, cell-extrinsic and cell-intrinsic signals govern the establishment of neuron subtype-specific identity. Here we show that, within the niche of the striatum, the expression of a single transcription factor, Fezf2, is sufficient to generate corticofugal neurons from progenitors fated to become medium spiny neurons. This demonstrates that a specific population of cortical projection neurons can be directed to differentiate outside of the cortex by cell-autonomous signaling.
Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Caroline
C
Rouaux
Paola
P
Arlotta
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology*; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000166:cytology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C412364:Zfp312 protein, mouse; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins