Biphasic functions for the GDNF-Ret signaling pathway in chemosensory neuron development and diversification.

ABSTRACT: The development of the taste system relies on the coordinated regulation of cues that direct the simultaneous development of both peripheral taste organs and innervating sensory ganglia, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we describe a novel, biphasic function for glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in the development and subsequent diversification of chemosensory neurons within the geniculate ganglion (GG). GDNF, acting through the receptor tyrosine kinase Ret, regulates the expression of the chemosensory fate determinant Phox2b early in GG development. Ret^-/- mice, but not Ret^fx/fx ; Phox2b-Cre mice, display a profound loss of Phox2b expression with subsequent chemosensory innervat

SUBMITTER: Donnelly CR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5776963 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature