title: AP-2α and AP-2β regulate dorsal interneuron specification in the spinal cord.
abstract: To date, five AP-2 genes that encode AP-2α, β, γ, δ and ε have been identified in vertebrates and they have been reported to be key regulators of embryonic development. However, the role of AP-2 family members in the development of central nervous system (CNS) has not been characterized. In the present study, we systematically examined the spatiotemporal expression pattern of AP-2 genes in the developing spinal cord of mouse and chick embryos and found that AP-2α and AP-2β are specifically expressed in post-mitotic dorsal interneurons. Loss-of-function analysis using in ovo electroporation in embryonic chick spinal cord preliminarily demonstrated that cAP-2α and cAP-2β regulates dorsal Class A and Class B interneuron specification, respectively. Gain-of-function experiments further revealed that misexpression of cAP-2α, but not cAP-2β, was able to induce the ectopic generation of Class A interneurons. Together, our studies indicated that AP-2 family members, AP-2α and AP-2β, have distinct functions in the regulation of dorsal interneuron development.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310029, China; Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA.
authors.forename: Xiaofeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA.
authors.forename: Zijing
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310029, China; Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310029, China.
authors.forename: Kang
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA.
authors.forename: Xuemei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310029, China.
authors.forename: Zunyi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organ Development and Regeneration, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310029, China; Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA. Electronic address: m0qiu001@louisville.edu.
authors.forename: Mengsheng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qiu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030161:Avian Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002642:Chick Embryo; D018274:Electroporation; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007395:Interneurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D050656:Transcription Factor AP-2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D030161:Avian Proteins; D050656:Transcription Factor AP-2
keywords: AP-2; chick embryo; dorsal interneuron specification; in ovo electroporation