Abstract
The transcription factor Pax6 has been implicated in two processes that may be related in brain development: establishment of regional cell adhesion properties and axon guidance. In Pax6 mutant mouse embryos, forebrain pioneer axons make pathfinding errors. These errors occur in a region of the ventral thalamus in which the expression of the cell adhesion molecule R-cadherin (Cdh4) is lost in Pax6 mutants. In vitro, an R-cadherin substrate promoted pioneer axon outgrowth. Furthermore, pioneer axon outgrowth was rescued in vivo by selective replacement of R-cadherin by electroporation into cultured Pax6 mutant embryos. Thus, these studies implicate Pax6 as an early brain patterning gene that establishes regional adhesive codes to guide pioneer axons.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Axons / drug effects
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Axons / physiology*
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Cadherins / genetics
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Cadherins / metabolism*
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Cadherins / pharmacology
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Cues
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Eye Proteins
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Gestational Age
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Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism*
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Homozygote
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Mice
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Mice, Mutant Strains
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Neural Pathways / embryology
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Neural Pathways / physiology
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Neurons / cytology
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Neurons / drug effects
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Neurons / metabolism
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PAX6 Transcription Factor
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Paired Box Transcription Factors
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Prosencephalon / cytology
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Prosencephalon / embryology
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Prosencephalon / metabolism
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Repressor Proteins
Substances
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Cadherins
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Eye Proteins
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Homeodomain Proteins
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PAX6 Transcription Factor
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Paired Box Transcription Factors
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Pax6 protein, mouse
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R-cadherin
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Repressor Proteins