ILF-3 is a regulator of the neural plate border marker Zic1 in chick embryos.
BACKGROUND
The neural crest is a multipotent cell type unique to the vertebrate lineage and capable of differentiating into a large number of varied cell types, including ganglia of the peripheral nervous system, cartilage, and glia. An early step in neural crest specification occurs at the neural plate border, a region defined by the overlap of transcription factors of the Zic, Msx, and Pax families.


RESULTS
Here we identify a novel chick gene with close homology to double-stranded RNA-binding protein Interleukin enhancer binding factor 3 (ILF-3) in other species. Our results show that chick Ilf-3 is required for proper expression of the transcription factor, Zic-1, at the neural plate border.


CONCLUSIONS
We have identified a novel chick gene and show it has a role in the correct specification of Zic-1 at the neural plate border.
Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA.
K J
KJ
Fishwick
E
E
Kim
M E
ME
Bronner
D000818:Animals; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D054258:Neural Plate / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D050779:Nuclear Factor 90 Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D050779:Nuclear Factor 90 Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors