title: Mechanisms regulating GABAergic neuron development.
abstract: Neurons using gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) as their neurotransmitter are the main inhibitory neurons in the mature central nervous system (CNS) and show great variation in their form and function. GABAergic neurons are produced in all of the main domains of the CNS, where they develop from discrete regions of the neuroepithelium. Here, we review the gene expression and regulatory mechanisms controlling the main steps of GABAergic neuron development: early patterning of the proliferative neuroepithelium, production of postmitotic neural precursors, establishment of their identity and migration. By comparing the molecular regulation of these events across CNS, we broadly identify three regions utilizing distinct molecular toolkits for GABAergic fate determination: telencephalon-anterior diencephalon (DLX2 type), posterior diencephalon-midbrain (GATA2 type) and hindbrain-spinal cord (PTF1A and TAL1 types). Similarities and differences in the molecular regulatory mechanisms reveal the core determinants of a GABAergic neuron as well as provide insights into generation of the vast diversity of these neurons.
authors.affiliation: EMBL Heidelberg, Meyerhofstr. 1, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany, kaia.achim@embl.de.
authors.forename: Kaia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Achim
authors.forename: Marjo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salminen
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Partanen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000502:physiology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D059330:GABAergic Neurons / Q000145:classification / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000073942:T-Cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Protein 1; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D000073942:T-Cell Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Protein 1; D014157:Transcription Factors; C062602:transcription factor PTF1; C067143:TAL1 protein, human