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Essential role of Gata transcription factors in sympathetic neuron development.
- Source :
-
Development (Cambridge, England) [Development] 2004 Oct; Vol. 131 (19), pp. 4775-86. Date of Electronic Publication: 2004 Aug 25. - Publication Year :
- 2004
-
Abstract
- Sympathetic neurons are specified during their development from neural crest precursors by a network of crossregulatory transcription factors, which includes Mash1, Phox2b, Hand2 and Phox2a. Here, we have studied the function of Gata2 and Gata3 zinc-finger transcription factors in autonomic neuron development. In the chick, Gata2 but not Gata3 is expressed in developing sympathetic precursor cells. Gata2 expression starts after Mash1, Phox2b, Hand2 and Phox2a expression, but before the onset of the noradrenergic marker genes Th and Dbh, and is maintained throughout development. Gata2 expression is affected in the chick embryo by Bmp gain- and loss-of-function experiments, and by overexpression of Phox2b, Phox2a, Hand2 and Mash1. Together with the lack of Gata2/3 expression in Phox2b knockout mice, these results characterize Gata2 as member of the Bmp-induced cluster of transcription factors. Loss-of-function experiments resulted in a strong reduction in the size of the sympathetic chain and in decreased Th expression. Ectopic expression of Gata2 in chick neural crest precursors elicited the generation of neurons with a non-autonomic, Th-negative phenotype. This implies a function for Gata factors in autonomic neuron differentiation, which, however, depends on co-regulators present in the sympathetic lineage. The present data establish Gata2 and Gata3 in the chick and mouse, respectively, as essential members of the transcription factor network controlling sympathetic neuron development.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Animals, Genetically Modified
Base Sequence
Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
Bone Morphogenetic Proteins genetics
Bone Morphogenetic Proteins metabolism
Cell Differentiation
Chick Embryo
DNA genetics
DNA-Binding Proteins genetics
Epistasis, Genetic
GATA2 Transcription Factor
GATA3 Transcription Factor
Ganglia, Parasympathetic embryology
Ganglia, Parasympathetic metabolism
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
Homeodomain Proteins genetics
Homeodomain Proteins metabolism
Locus Coeruleus embryology
Locus Coeruleus metabolism
Mice
Mice, Knockout
Nerve Tissue Proteins
Neurons cytology
Norepinephrine metabolism
Phenotype
Signal Transduction
Trans-Activators genetics
Transcription Factors genetics
Zebrafish Proteins
DNA-Binding Proteins metabolism
Neurons metabolism
Sympathetic Nervous System embryology
Sympathetic Nervous System metabolism
Trans-Activators metabolism
Transcription Factors metabolism
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0950-1991
- Volume :
- 131
- Issue :
- 19
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Development (Cambridge, England)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 15329349
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.01370