Loss of ATF2 function leads to cranial motoneuron degeneration during embryonic mouse development.

ABSTRACT: The AP-1 family transcription factor ATF2 is essential for development and tissue maintenance in mammals. In particular, ATF2 is highly expressed and activated in the brain and previous studies using mouse knockouts have confirmed its requirement in the cerebellum as well as in vestibular sense organs. Here we present the analysis of the requirement for ATF2 in CNS development in mouse embryos, specifically in the brainstem. We discovered that neuron-specific inactivation of ATF2 leads to significant loss of motoneurons of the hypoglossal, abducens and facial nuclei. While the generation of ATF2 mutant motoneurons appears normal during early development, they undergo caspase-dependent and independent cell death during later embryonic and foetal stages. The loss of these motoneurons correla

SUBMITTER: Ackermann J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3080913 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature