title: Molecular interactions underlying the specification of sensory neurons.
abstract: Sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) respond to many different kinds of stimulus. The ability to discriminate between the diverse types of sensation is reflected by the existence of functionally and morphologically specialized sensory neurons. This neuronal diversity is created in a step-wise process extending well into postnatal life. Here, we review the hierarchical organization and the molecular process involving interactions between environmental growth factors, used and reused in different developmental contexts in self-reinforcing and cross-inhibitory mechanisms, and intrinsic gene programs that underlie the progressive diversification of sensory progenitors into specialized neurons. The recent advance in knowledge of sensory neuron specification may provide mechanistic principles that could extend to other parts of the nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, 17177 Stockholm, Sweden. francois.lallemend@ki.se
authors.forename: Francois
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lallemend
authors.forename: Patrik
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ernfors
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D012677:Sensation / Q000502:physiology*; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors