Neuronal diversification: development of motor neuron subtypes

doi:10.1016/S0959-4388(98)80005-6

Current Opinion in Neurobiology

Volume 8, Issue 1, February 1998, Pages 27-36

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0959-4388(98)80005-6 Get rights and content

Abstract

Recent progress has been made in defining the developmental mechanisms that contribute to the diversification of motor neuron subtypes, which differ in transcription factor gene expression and synaptic connections. These studies suggest that progenitor cells acquire specific motor neuron identities through the coordinate actions of multiple factors. Current evidence suggests that Sonic hedgehog initiates a common pathway for motor neuron differentiation, while positionally distributed factors act to assign subtype identities.

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This chapter provides an understanding on the developmental process of dorsal and ventral spinal cord. The embryonic dorsal spinal cord is made up of interneurons (INs) organized into six distinct classes, which arise in an orderly fashion from specific regions of the progenitor zone. Dorsal INs can be subdivided into two subclasses that include those which are dependent on the roof plate for formation and those that are independent. Each of the six classes of INs expresses a unique set of transcription factors that change as progenitor cells in the ventricular zone mature and migrate to the mantle. An important source of patterning signals in the developing spinal cord is the roof plate and adjacent neural epithelial cells, which express overlapping and nested combinations of several TGFβ members, including BMP4/5/7, Gdf6/7, and Dsl1. The expression pattern of the TGFβs suggests that a high-dorsal to low-ventral gradient of the proteins is present within the neural tube. Only one hedgehog member is involved in ventral spinal cord patterning in higher vertebrates. The active Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling molecule is autoprocessed and cholesterol-modified, and binds to the patched/smoothened receptor complex. The active Shh signaling molecule is autoprocessed and cholesterol-modified, and binds to the patched/smoothened receptor complex. In the absence of Shh, patched inhibits smoothened from signaling, and this inhibition is relieved when Shh binds patched. Decreasing concentrations of Shh progressively induce cell types found further from the ventral midline, recapitulating the normal organization of cells in the ventral spinal cord. At early stages Shh acts on progenitor cells to trigger motor neuron (MN) differentiation, but later in ventral spinal cord development oligodendrocytes are produced instead of MNs.
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Neuronal diversification: development of motor neuron subtypes

Abstract

Cell

Cell

Cell

Neuron

Cell

Mol Cell Neurosci

Genes Dev

Science

Development

Development

Cell

Development

Cell

Cell

J Neurosci

J Neurosci

Development

Neuron

Cell

Development

J Physiol (Lond)

Development

Development

Nature

Growth cone guidance in the avian limb: a search for cellular and molecular mechanisms

Pathway selection by growth cones of identified motoneurones in live zebra fish embryos

Nature

Structure and function of LIM domains

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

Development

Interactions of the LIM-domain binding factor Ldb1 with LIM homeodomain proteins

Nature

Nuclear LIM interactor, a rhombotin and LIM homeodomain interacting protein, is expressed early in neuronal development

Proc Natl Acad Sci USA

The nuclear LIM domain interactor NLI mediates homo- and heterodimerization of LIM domain transcription factors

J Biol Chem