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Control of Roof Plate Development and Signaling by Lmx1b in the Caudal Vertebrate CNS

Authors :
Victor V. Chizhikov
Kathleen J. Millen
Source :
The Journal of Neuroscience. 24:5694-5703
Publication Year :
2004
Publisher :
Society for Neuroscience, 2004.

Abstract

Numerous studies have identified the roof plate as an important signaling center controlling dorsal interneuron specification and differentiation in the developing spinal cord. Currently, the molecular pathways of roof plate formation and function are poorly understood. We determined that the LIM-homeodomain transcription factor Lmx1b is sufficient to induce functional roof plate in the early chick developing spinal cord. In the chick, Lmx1b acts upstream of Lmx1a in the roof plate developmental program. Once the roof plate forms, we show that Bmp and Wnt signaling are the major components ofLmx1a/b-dependent roof plate dorsal patterning activity. The roof plate function ofLmx1bis not conserved across vertebrates becauseLmx1bis not expressed in mouse roof plate progenitors. Instead, mouse caudal CNS roof plate formation relies entirely onLmx1a. Lmx1bcan, however, partially rescue roof plate development indreher(Lmx1a-/-) mice, indicating that Lmx1b has some functional redundancy to Lmx1a. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the roof plate-inducing activity of Lmx1b can be suppressed by Mash1 (Cash1), which is normally expressed in intermediate neural tube in both chick and mouse. Our data identifyLmx1bas a key regulator of spinal cord roof plate induction and function.

Details

ISSN :
15292401 and 02706474
Volume :
24
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
The Journal of Neuroscience
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....68d92f203d4f51fa9f42901cb90047dc