Spinal neurons require Islet1 for subtype-specific differentiation of electrical excitability.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In the spinal cord, stereotypic patterns of transcription factor expression uniquely identify neuronal subtypes. These transcription factors function combinatorially to regulate gene expression. Consequently, a single transcription factor may regulate divergent development programs by participation in different combinatorial codes. One such factor, the LIM-homeodomain transcription factor Islet1, is expressed in the vertebrate spinal cord. In mouse, chick and zebrafish, motor and sensory neurons require Islet1 for specification of biochemical and morphological signatures. Little is known, however, about the role that Islet1 might play for development of electrical membrane properties in vertebrates. Here we test for a role of Islet1 in differentiation of excitable membra

SUBMITTER: Moreno RL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4153448 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature