Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Dev Dyn. 2011 Feb;240(2):413-21. doi: 10.1002/dvdy.22543. Epub 2011 Jan 11.
Autotaxin (ATX) is a lysophospholipid-generating exoenzyme expressed in embryonic and adult neural tissues. We previously showed that ATX is expressed in the neural organizing centers, anterior head process, and midbrain-hindbrain boundary (MHB). To elucidate the role of ATX during neural development, here we examined the neural phenotypes of ATX-deficient mice. Expression analysis of neural marker genes revealed that lateral expansion of the rostral forebrain is reduced and establishment of the MHB is compromised as early as the late headfold stage in ATX mutant embryos. Moreover, ATX mutant embryos fail to complete cranial neural tube closure. These results indicate that ATX is essential for cranial neurulation and MHB establishment.
自分泌酶（ATX）是一种在胚胎和成人神经组织中表达的溶血磷脂酶生成酶。我们之前表明，ATX 在神经组织中心、前头部过程和中脑-后脑边界（MHB）中表达。为了阐明 ATX 在神经发育过程中的作用，我们在这里检查了 ATX 缺陷型小鼠的神经表型。神经标记基因的表达分析表明，在 ATX 突变胚胎的晚期头褶阶段，前脑的头部扩张减少，并且 MHB 的建立受到损害。此外，ATX 突变胚胎不能完成颅神经管闭合。这些结果表明 ATX 对于颅神经突起和 MHB 的建立是必不可少的。
