Dbx mediates neuronal specification and differentiation through cross-repressive, lineage-specific interactions with eve and hb9.

ABSTRACT: Individual neurons adopt and maintain defined morphological and physiological phenotypes as a result of the expression of specific combinations of transcription factors. In particular, homeodomain-containing transcription factors play key roles in determining neuronal subtype identity in flies and vertebrates. dbx belongs to the highly divergent H2.0 family of homeobox genes. In vertebrates, Dbx1 and Dbx2 promote the development of a subset of interneurons, some of which help mediate left-right coordination of locomotor activity. Here, we identify and show that the single Drosophila ortholog of Dbx1/2 contributes to the development of specific subsets of interneurons via cross-repressive, lineage-specific interactions with the motoneuron-promoting factors eve and hb9 (exex). dbx is express

SUBMITTER: Lacin H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2739143 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature