Adolf Birgit, Bellipanni Gianfranco, Huber Veronika, Bally-Cuif Laure
Zebrafish Neurogenetics Junior Research Group, Institute of Virology, Technical University-Munich, Trogerstrasse 4b, D-81675 Munich, Germany.
Gene Expr Patterns. 2004 Nov;5(1):35-41. doi: 10.1016/j.modgep.2004.06.009.
Transcription factors of the bHLH class play crucial roles in neurogenesis by controlling the location and timing of neuronal commitment and differentiation, as well as influencing neuronal identity. Proneural bHLH factors belong to the Olig, Neurogenin, NeuroD, Achaete-scute and Atonal subfamilies, and are expressed in partially overlapping or complementary patterns within the vertebrate embryonic neural tube. The combinatorial expression of these factors likely drives the generic and cell type-specific properties of neurogenesis throughout the nervous system. As an approach towards identifying a complete set of vertebrate proneural factors, we report here the isolation of two new zebrafish neural bHLH gene members, atoh1.2 and beta3.1. Among other sites, both are expressed in the late embryonic and early larval anterior hindbrain. In this territory we demonstrate that atoh1.2 and beta3.1 are transcribed in distinct precursors, further highlighting the subdivision of anterior zebrafish hindbrain into subdomains of bHLH expression.
bHLH类转录因子通过控制神经元定向分化的位置和时间以及影响神经元特性，在神经发生过程中发挥关键作用。原神经bHLH因子属于Olig、Neurogenin、NeuroD、Achaete-scute和Atonal亚家族，在脊椎动物胚胎神经管内以部分重叠或互补的模式表达。这些因子的组合表达可能驱动整个神经系统神经发生的一般特性和细胞类型特异性特性。作为鉴定完整脊椎动物原神经因子集的一种方法，我们在此报告分离出两个新的斑马鱼神经bHLH基因成员，即atoh1.2和beta3.1。除其他部位外，二者均在胚胎晚期和幼体早期的前脑后部表达。在该区域，我们证明atoh1.2和beta3.1在不同的前体细胞中表达，进一步突显了斑马鱼前脑后部细分为bHLH表达亚域的情况。
