Geminin loss causes neural tube defects through disrupted progenitor specification and neuronal differentiation.

ABSTRACT: Geminin is a nucleoprotein that can directly bind chromatin regulatory complexes to modulate gene expression during development. Geminin knockout mouse embryos are preimplantation lethal by the 32-cell stage, precluding in vivo study of Geminin's role in neural development. Therefore, here we used a conditional Geminin allele in combination with several Cre-driver lines to define an essential role for Geminin during mammalian neural tube (NT) formation and patterning. Geminin was required in the NT within a critical developmental time window (embryonic day 8.5-10.5), when NT patterning and closure occurs. Geminin excision at these stages resulted in strongly diminished expression of genes that mark and promote dorsal NT identities and decreased differentiation of ventral motor neurons, res

SUBMITTER: Patterson ES 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4134736 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature