Abstract
Homeoprotein transcription factors play fundamental roles in development, ranging from embryonic polarity to cell differentiation and migration. Research in recent years has underscored the physiological importance of homeoprotein intercellular transfer in eye field development, axon guidance and retino-tectal patterning, and visual cortex plasticity. Here, we have used the embryonic chick neural tube to investigate a possible role for homeoprotein Pax6 transfer in oligodendrocyte precursor cell (OPC) migration. We report the extracellular expression of Pax6 and the effects of gain and loss of extracellular Pax6 activity on OPCs. Open book cultures with recombinant Pax6 protein or Pax6 blocking antibodies, as well as in ovo gene transfer experiments involving expression of secreted Pax6 protein or secreted Pax6 antibodies, provide converging evidences that OPC migration is promoted by extracellular Pax6. The paracrine effect of Pax6 on OPC migration is thus a new example of direct non-cell autonomous homeoprotein activity.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Animals, Genetically Modified
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Cell Differentiation / drug effects
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Cell Differentiation / genetics
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Cell Differentiation / physiology
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Cell Movement / drug effects
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Cell Movement / genetics*
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Chick Embryo
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Extracellular Space / metabolism
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Eye Proteins / genetics
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Eye Proteins / metabolism
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Eye Proteins / pharmacology
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Eye Proteins / physiology*
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Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
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Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism
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Homeodomain Proteins / pharmacology
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Homeodomain Proteins / physiology*
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
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Neural Tube / cytology
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Neural Tube / embryology*
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Neural Tube / metabolism
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Neural Tube / physiology
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Oligodendroglia / drug effects
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Oligodendroglia / metabolism
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Oligodendroglia / physiology*
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PAX6 Transcription Factor
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Paired Box Transcription Factors / genetics
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Paired Box Transcription Factors / metabolism
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Paired Box Transcription Factors / pharmacology
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Paired Box Transcription Factors / physiology*
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Paracrine Communication* / physiology
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Protein Transport / genetics
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Protein Transport / physiology
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Repressor Proteins / genetics
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Repressor Proteins / metabolism
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Repressor Proteins / pharmacology
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Repressor Proteins / physiology*
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Stem Cells / drug effects
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Stem Cells / metabolism
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Stem Cells / physiology
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Substrate Specificity
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Tissue Distribution
Substances
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Eye Proteins
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Homeodomain Proteins
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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PAX6 Transcription Factor
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Paired Box Transcription Factors
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Repressor Proteins