PUBLICATION

Motoneuron fate specification revealed by patterned LIM homeobox gene expression in embryonic zebrafish

Authors
Appel, B., Korzh, V., Glasgow, E., Thor, S., Edlund, T., Dawid, I.B., and Eisen, J.S.
ID
ZDB-PUB-961014-52
Date
1995
Source
Development (Cambridge, England)   121: 4117-4125 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Appel, Bruce, Dawid, Igor B., Eisen, Judith S., Glasgow, Eric, Korzh, Vladimir, Thor, Stefan
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA Primers/genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Genes, Homeobox*
  • Homeodomain Proteins/genetics*
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Motor Neurons/physiology*
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Zebrafish
PubMed
8575312 Full text @ Development
Abstract
In zebrafish, individual primary motoneurons can be uniquely identified by their characteristic cell body positions and axonal projection patterns. The fate of individual primary motoneurons remains plastic until just prior to axogenesis when they become committed to particular identities. We find that distinct primary motoneurons express particular combinations of LIM homeobox genes. Expression precedes axogenesis as well as commitment, suggesting that LIM homeobox genes may contribute to the specification of motoneuronal fates. By transplanting them to new spinal cord positions, we demonstrate that primary motoneurons can initiate a new program of LIM homeobox gene expression, as well as the morphological features appropriate for the new position. We conclude that the patterned distribution of different primary motoneuronal types within the zebrafish spinal cord follows the patterned expression of LIM homeobox genes, and that this reflects a highly resolved system of positional information controlling gene transcription.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Show all Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping