PUBLICATION
Formation of posterior cranial placode derivatives requires the Iroquois transcription factor irx4a
- Authors
- Feijoo, C.G., Saldias, M.P., De la Paz, J.F., Gómez-Skarmeta, J.L., and Allende, M.L.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-090106-31
- Date
- 2009
- Source
- Molecular and cellular neurosciences 40(3): 328-337 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Allende, Miguel L., Feijoo, Carmen G., Gómez-Skarmeta, José Luis
- Keywords
- none
- MeSH Terms
-
- Animals
- Zebrafish*/anatomy & histology
- Zebrafish*/embryology
- Zebrafish*/metabolism
- Trigeminal Ganglion/cytology
- Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
- Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism*
- Cell Death/physiology
- Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
- SOXB1 Transcription Factors/genetics
- SOXB1 Transcription Factors/metabolism
- Rhombencephalon/cytology
- Rhombencephalon/physiology
- Transcription Factors/genetics
- Transcription Factors/metabolism*
- Body Patterning
- Neurogenesis/physiology*
- PubMed
- 19111617 Full text @ Mol. Cell Neurosci.
Citation
Feijoo, C.G., Saldias, M.P., De la Paz, J.F., Gómez-Skarmeta, J.L., and Allende, M.L. (2009) Formation of posterior cranial placode derivatives requires the Iroquois transcription factor irx4a. Molecular and cellular neurosciences. 40(3):328-337.
Abstract
Members of the Iroquois (Irx) homeodomain transcription factor gene family have been implicated in a variety of early developmental processes, including neural pre-patterning, tissue differentiation, neural crest development and cranial placode formation. Here, we report that, in zebrafish, the irx4a gene participates in specification of a number of placode derivatives that arise from the posterior placodal field. Specifically, differentiation of the trigeminal, epibranchial and lateral line placodes are affected when irx4a function is interrupted using antisense morpholino oligonucleotides. We show that both in the trigeminal ganglion and in the lateral line, irx4a is involved in controlling the number of sensory cells that develop. Other phenotypes observed in morphant embryos include misspecification of the heart chambers and failure of retinal ganglion and photoreceptor cell differentiation, functions described previously for Irx4 in other species. We also provide evidence that irx4a regulates the expression of the sox2 gene, both in the neural plate and in progenitor cells of the lateral line system. Our results point to irx4a as a critical gene for numerous developmental processes and highlight its role in the formation of placodal derivatives in vertebrates.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping