ROLE OF POU DOMAIN GENES IN EARLY VERTEBRATE DEVELOPMENT

POU转录因子已被证明是 在细胞命运决定的调控中起着重要作用 发展。我们已经重点了解了 一个POU结构域基因XlPOU 2，在神经发育的早期。我们 在Xenopus中生成了函数的“击倒”，利用 由融合到POU上的增强型阻遏因子组成的结构 XlPOU 2的结构域。该结构受 激素、地塞米松和从该结构中获得的mRNAs 在将成为未来大脑的谱系中过度表达。 因此，在时间和空间上都表达了 “显性-抑制”POU结构表明XlPOU2是 大脑的正常形成所必需的，特别是中脑 后脑边界区。XlPOU2诱导了一系列调控 基因在早期的神经发生中，并可能在 这一过程。为了了解这些事件的级联 遵循神经诱导，这是一种克隆基因的减法方案 用神经诱导因子noggin上调。 两个新的候选基因已经被识别出来，并正在进行 特征：其中一个基因是类似Kruppel的锌指基因， 另一个是同源异型盒基因。我们还克隆了 描述了斑马鱼太极中一种新的与脑-1相关的POU基因。 太极是一种增殖，未分化的细胞的标志 成体硬骨鱼神经系统。小鼠太极拳的特征 它在神经干细胞中的作用将通过原代培养来检验 小鼠神经元祖细胞培养和基因去除。

POU transcription factors have been shown to be important in the regulation of cell fate decisions during development. We have focused on understanding the function of one POU domain gene, XlPOU 2, in early neural development. We generated a "knockout" of function in Xenopus, utilizing a construct consisting of the engrailed repressor fused to the POU domain of XlPOU 2. This construct was under the regulation of the hormone, dexamethasone, and mRNA obtained from this construct was overexpressed in the lineage that will become the future brain. Thus, both temporal and spatial expression of the "dominant-inhibitory" POU construct showed that XlPOU 2 is required for proper formation of the brain, specifically the mid-brain hindbrain boundary region. XlPOU 2 induces a host of regulatory genes in the early neurogenesis, and is likely to play a pivotal role in this process. In order to understand the cascade of events that follow neural induction, a subtraction scheme to clone genes that up-regulated by the neural induction factor noggin was undertaken. Two novel candidate genes have been identified and are being characterized: one of these genes is a Kruppel-like zinc finger gene, and the other a homeobox gene. We have also cloned and characterized a novel Brain-1-related POU gene in zebrafish, tai-ji. Taiji is a hallmark of proliferating, non- differentiated cells of the adult teleost nervous system. The characterization of mouse tai-ji and its role in neural stem cells will be examined using primary progenitor cultures of neurons and gene ablation in the mouse.