The basic helix-loop-helix olig3 establishes the neural plate boundary of the trunk and is necessary for development of the dorsal spinal cord.

ABSTRACT: olig genes encode a previously unrecognized group of vertebrate-specific basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors. As shown in mice, chickens, and zebrafish, two members of this group, olig1 and olig2, are involved in the differentiation of motoneurons and oligodendrocytes, but nothing is known about the role of the third member, olig3. Here, we show that olig3 plays an essential role in the establishment of the neural crest-lateral neural plate boundary. In zebrafish embryos, morpholino-induced olig3 inactivation dramatically increases the number of neural crest cells, but lateral neural plate fates (interneurons and astrocytes) are missing. Zebrafish swirl mutants that have impaired bone morphogenetic protein signaling and lack neural crest cells display an expanded olig3 expression

SUBMITTER: Filippi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC549604 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature