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Azman MS, Wan Saudi WS, Ilhami M, Mutalib MSA, Rahman MT. Zinc intake during pregnancy increases the proliferation at ventricular zone of the newborn brain. Nutr Neurosci 2009; 12:9-12. [PMID: 19178786 DOI: 10.1179/147683009x388904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Neurogenesis involves cell proliferation, cell cycle arrest, differentiation, migration and the natural developmental death of the neural precursors. These processes are highly co-ordinated and governed by cell-cycle genes and neural transcription factors. Zn plays a crucial role as a functional and structural component of enzymes and transcription factors and components of the intracellular signaling pathway associated with the regulation of cell proliferation. The influence of additional Zn intake during pregnancy on the neuronal proliferation at ventricular zone of the developing fetus has been studied. Pups delivered by the group of mice provided with drinking water with 4.0 mM Zn supplement throughout pregnancy contained an increased number of proliferating neurons in the ventricular zone at P0 compared to those delivered by the mice provided with drinking water without any Zn supplement. This finding provides direct evidence to support the notion that maternal Zn levels influence the development of the nervous system of the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohd S Azman
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Science, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), Kuantan, Malaysia
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2
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Francini F, Del Zotto H, Massa ML, Gagliardino JJ. Selective effect of INGAP-PP upon mouse embryonic stem cell differentiation toward islet cells. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009; 153:43-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.regpep.2008.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2008] [Revised: 11/07/2008] [Accepted: 12/15/2008] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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Regulation of glia number in Drosophila by Rap/Fzr, an activator of the anaphase-promoting complex, and Loco, an RGS protein. Genetics 2008; 178:2003-16. [PMID: 18430931 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.107.086397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Glia mediate a vast array of cellular processes and are critical for nervous system development and function. Despite their immense importance in neurobiology, glia remain understudied and the molecular mechanisms that direct their differentiation are poorly understood. Rap/Fzr is the Drosophila homolog of the mammalian Cdh1, a regulatory subunit of the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C). APC/C is an E3 ubiquitin ligase complex well characterized for its role in cell cycle progression. In this study, we have uncovered a novel cellular role for Rap/Fzr. Loss of rap/fzr function leads to a marked increase in the number of glia in the nervous system of third instar larvae. Conversely, ectopic expression of UAS-rap/fzr, driven by repo-GAL4, results in the drastic reduction of glia. Data from clonal analyses using the MARCM technique show that Rap/Fzr regulates the differentiation of surface glia in the developing larval nervous system. Our genetic and biochemical data further indicate that Rap/Fzr regulates glial differentiation through its interaction with Loco, a regulator of G-protein signaling (RGS) protein and a known effector of glia specification. We propose that Rap/Fzr targets Loco for ubiquitination, thereby regulating glial differentiation in the developing nervous system.
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Mukhida K, Baghbaderani BA, Hong M, Lewington M, Phillips T, McLeod M, Sen A, Behie LA, Mendez I. Survival, differentiation, and migration of bioreactor-expanded human neural precursor cells in a model of Parkinson disease in rats. Neurosurg Focus 2008; 24:E8. [DOI: 10.3171/foc/2008/24/3-4/e7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Object
Fetal tissue transplantation for Parkinson disease (PD) has demonstrated promising results in experimental and clinical studies. However, the widespread clinical application of this therapeutic approach is limited by a lack of fetal tissue. Human neural precursor cells (HNPCs) are attractive candidates for transplantation because of their long-term proliferation activity. Furthermore, these cells can be reproducibly expanded in a standardized fashion in suspension bioreactors. In this study the authors sought to determine whether the survival, differentiation, and migration of HNPCs after transplantation depended on the region of precursor cell origin, intracerebral site of transplantation, and duration of their expansion.
Methods
Human neural precursor cells were isolated from the telencephalon, brainstem, ventral mesencephalon, and spinal cord of human fetuses 8–10 weeks of gestational age, and their differentiation potential characterized in vitro. After expansion in suspension bioreactors, the HNPCs were transplanted into the striatum and substantia nigra of parkinsonian rats. Histological analyses were performed 7 weeks posttransplantation.
Results
The HNPCs isolated from various regions of the neuraxis demonstrated diverse propensities to differentiate into astrocytes and neurons and could all successfully expand under standardized conditions in suspension bioreactors. At 7 weeks posttransplantation, survival and migration were significantly greater for HNPCs obtained from the more rostral brain regions. The HNPCs differentiated predominantly into astrocytes after transplantation into the striatum or substantia nigra regions, and thus no behavioral improvement was observed.
Conclusions
Understanding the regional differences in HNPC properties is prerequisite to their application for PD cell restoration strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karim Mukhida
- 1Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Cell Restoration Laboratory, Dalhousie Medical School; Departments of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia; and
| | - Behnam A. Baghbaderani
- 2Pharmaceutical Production Research Facility, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Murray Hong
- 1Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Cell Restoration Laboratory, Dalhousie Medical School; Departments of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia; and
| | - Matthew Lewington
- 1Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Cell Restoration Laboratory, Dalhousie Medical School; Departments of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia; and
| | - Timothy Phillips
- 1Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Cell Restoration Laboratory, Dalhousie Medical School; Departments of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia; and
| | - Marcus McLeod
- 1Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Cell Restoration Laboratory, Dalhousie Medical School; Departments of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia; and
| | - Arindom Sen
- 2Pharmaceutical Production Research Facility, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Leo A. Behie
- 2Pharmaceutical Production Research Facility, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Ivar Mendez
- 1Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, Cell Restoration Laboratory, Dalhousie Medical School; Departments of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia; and
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Carén H, Fransson S, Ejeskär K, Kogner P, Martinsson T. Genetic and epigenetic changes in the common 1p36 deletion in neuroblastoma tumours. Br J Cancer 2007; 97:1416-24. [PMID: 17940511 PMCID: PMC2360241 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6604032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Chromosome 1p is frequently deleted in neuroblastoma (NB) tumours. The commonly deleted region has been narrowed down by loss of heterozygosity studies undertaken by different groups. Based on earlier mapping data, we have focused on a region on 1p36 (chr1: 7 765 595–11 019 814) and performed an analysis of 30 genes by exploring features such as epigenetic regulation, that is DNA methylation and histone deacetylation, mutations at the DNA level and mRNA expression. Treatment of NB cell lines with the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A led to increased gene transcription of four of the 30 genes, ERRFI1 (MIG-6), PIK3CD, RBP7 (CRBPIV) and CASZ1, indicating that these genes could be affected by epigenetic downregulation in NBs. Two patients with nonsynonymous mutations in the PIK3CD gene were detected. One patient harboured three variations in the same exon, and p.R188W. The other patient had the variation p.M655I. In addition, synonymous variations and one variation in an intronic sequence were also found. The mRNA expression of this gene is downregulated in unfavourable, compared to favourable, NBs. One nonsynonymous mutation was also identified in the ERRFI1 gene, p.N343S, and one synonymous. None of the variations above were found in healthy control individuals. In conclusion, of the 30 genes analysed, the PIK3CD gene stands out as one of the most interesting for further studies of NB development and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Carén
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Institute of Biomedicine, Göteborg University, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg SE-41345, Sweden
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Bello B, Reichert H, Hirth F. The brain tumor gene negatively regulates neural progenitor cell proliferation in the larval central brain of Drosophila. Development 2006; 133:2639-48. [PMID: 16774999 DOI: 10.1242/dev.02429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 205] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Brain development in Drosophila is characterized by two neurogenic periods, one during embryogenesis and a second during larval life. Although much is known about embryonic neurogenesis, little is known about the genetic control of postembryonic brain development. Here we use mosaic analysis with a repressible cell marker (MARCM) to study the role of the brain tumor(brat) gene in neural proliferation control and tumour suppression in postembryonic brain development of Drosophila. Our findings indicate that overproliferation in brat mutants is due to loss of proliferation control in the larval central brain and not in the optic lobe. Clonal analysis indicates that the brat mutation affects cell proliferation in a cell-autonomous manner and cell cycle marker expression shows that cells of brat mutant clones show uncontrolled proliferation, which persists into adulthood. Analysis of the expression of molecular markers, which characterize cell types in wild-type neural lineages,indicates that brat mutant clones comprise an excessive number of cells, which have molecular features of undifferentiated progenitor cells that lack nuclear Prospero (Pros). pros mutant clones phenocopy brat mutant clones in the larval central brain, and targeted expression of wild-type pros in brat mutant clones promotes cell cycle exit and differentiation of brat mutant cells, thereby abrogating brain tumour formation. Taken together, our results provide evidence that the tumour suppressor brat negatively regulates cell proliferation during larval central brain development of Drosophila,and suggest that Prospero acts as a key downstream effector of bratin cell fate specification and proliferation control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Bello
- Biozentrum, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
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Valente T, Junyent F, Auladell C. Zac1 is expressed in progenitor/stem cells of the neuroectoderm and mesoderm during embryogenesis: differential phenotype of the Zac1-expressing cells during development. Dev Dyn 2005; 233:667-79. [PMID: 15844099 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.20373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Zac1, a new zinc-finger protein that regulates both apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, is abundantly expressed in many neuroepithelia during early brain development. In the present work, we study the expression of Zac1 during early embryogenesis and we determine the cellular phenotype of the Zac1-expressing cells throughout development. Our results show that Zac1 is expressed in the progenitor/stem cells of several tissues (nervous system, skeleton, and skeletal muscle), because they colocalize with several progenitor/stem markers (Nestin, glial fibrillary acidic protein, FORSE-1, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and bromodeoxyuridine). In postnatal development, Zac1 is expressed in all phases of the life cycle of the chondrocytes (from proliferation to apoptosis), in some limbic gamma-aminobutyric acid-ergic neuronal subpopulations, and during developmental myofibers. Therefore, the intense expression of Zac1 in the progenitor/stem cells of different cellular lineages during the proliferative cycle, before differentiation into postmitotic cells, suggests that Zac1 plays an important role in the control of cell fate during neurogenesis, chondrogenesis, and myogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony Valente
- Departament de Biologia Cellular, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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Street CN, Sipione S, Helms L, Binette T, Rajotte RV, Bleackley RC, Korbutt GS. Stem cell-based approaches to solving the problem of tissue supply for islet transplantation in type 1 diabetes. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2004; 36:667-83. [PMID: 15010331 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2003.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2003] [Accepted: 09/16/2003] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes is a debilitating condition, affecting millions worldwide, that is characterized by the autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic islets of Langerhans. Although exogenous insulin administration has traditionally been the mode of treatment for this disease, recent advancements in the transplantation of donor-derived insulin-producing cells have provided new hope for a cure. However, in order for islet transplantation to become a widely used technique, an alternative source of cells must be identified to supplement the limited supply currently available from cadaveric donor organs. Stem cells represent a promising solution to this problem, and current research is being aimed at the creation of islet-endocrine tissue from these undifferentiated cells. This review presents a summary of the research to date involving stem cells and cell replacement therapy for type 1 diabetes. The potential for the differentiation of embryonic stem (ES) cells to islet phenotype is discussed, as well as the possibility of identifying and exploiting a pancreatic progenitor/stem cell from the adult pancreas. The possibility of creating new islets from adult stem cells derived from other tissues, or directly form other terminally differentiated cell types is also addressed. Finally, a model for the isolation and maturation of islets from the neonatal porcine pancreas is discussed as evidence for the existence of an islet precursor cell in the pancreas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cale N Street
- Surgical-Medical Research Institute, University of Alberta, Room 1074, Dentistry/Pharmacy Building, Edmonton, Alta., Canada T6G 2N8
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Balasubramaniyan V, de Haas AH, Bakels R, Koper A, Boddeke HWGM, Copray JCVM. Functionally deficient neuronal differentiation of mouse embryonic neural stem cells in vitro. Neurosci Res 2004; 49:261-5. [PMID: 15140568 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2004.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2003] [Accepted: 02/18/2004] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Embryonic mouse neural stem cells (NSCs) were isolated from E14 mice, multiplied in medium containing epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and plated in laminin-coated wells in basic serum-free neurobasal medium. After 7 days in vitro, approximately 20% of the embryonic mouse NSCs developed into morphologically and biochemically fully maturated neurons, with extensive dendrites and multiple synaptic contacts. However, even after 22 days of culture, none of these neurons developed voltage-dependent sodium-channels characteristic for a functional neuron. Apparently, the morphological differentiation and the electrophysiological maturation of an embryonic mouse NSC into a neuron are independently regulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Balasubramaniyan
- Department of Medical Physiology, University of Groningen, A. Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen, The Netherlands
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Loop T, Leemans R, Stiefel U, Hermida L, Egger B, Xie F, Primig M, Certa U, Fischbach KF, Reichert H, Hirth F. Transcriptional signature of an adult brain tumor in Drosophila. BMC Genomics 2004; 5:24. [PMID: 15090076 PMCID: PMC419699 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-5-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2003] [Accepted: 04/16/2004] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mutations and gene expression alterations in brain tumors have been extensively investigated, however the causes of brain tumorigenesis are largely unknown. Animal models are necessary to correlate altered transcriptional activity and tumor phenotype and to better understand how these alterations cause malignant growth. In order to gain insights into the in vivo transcriptional activity associated with a brain tumor, we carried out genome-wide microarray expression analyses of an adult brain tumor in Drosophila caused by homozygous mutation in the tumor suppressor gene brain tumor (brat). Results Two independent genome-wide gene expression studies using two different oligonucleotide microarray platforms were used to compare the transcriptome of adult wildtype flies with mutants displaying the adult bratk06028 mutant brain tumor. Cross-validation and stringent statistical criteria identified a core transcriptional signature of bratk06028 neoplastic tissue. We find significant expression level changes for 321 annotated genes associated with the adult neoplastic bratk06028 tissue indicating elevated and aberrant metabolic and cell cycle activity, upregulation of the basal transcriptional machinery, as well as elevated and aberrant activity of ribosome synthesis and translation control. One fifth of these genes show homology to known mammalian genes involved in cancer formation. Conclusion Our results identify for the first time the genome-wide transcriptional alterations associated with an adult brain tumor in Drosophila and reveal insights into the possible mechanisms of tumor formation caused by homozygous mutation of the translational repressor brat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Loop
- Institute of Zoology, Biocenter/Pharmacenter, University of Basel, Klingelbergstr. 50, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ronny Leemans
- Institute of Zoology, Biocenter/Pharmacenter, University of Basel, Klingelbergstr. 50, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Urs Stiefel
- Institute of Zoology, Biocenter/Pharmacenter, University of Basel, Klingelbergstr. 50, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Leandro Hermida
- Biocenter, University of Basel, Klingelbergstr. 70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Boris Egger
- Institute of Zoology, Biocenter/Pharmacenter, University of Basel, Klingelbergstr. 50, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Fukang Xie
- Institute of Zoology, Biocenter/Pharmacenter, University of Basel, Klingelbergstr. 50, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Michael Primig
- Biocenter, University of Basel, Klingelbergstr. 70, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ulrich Certa
- Roche Genetics Pharmaceuticals Division, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, CH-4070 Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Heinrich Reichert
- Institute of Zoology, Biocenter/Pharmacenter, University of Basel, Klingelbergstr. 50, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Frank Hirth
- Institute of Zoology, Biocenter/Pharmacenter, University of Basel, Klingelbergstr. 50, CH-4056 Basel, Switzerland
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Sipione S, Eshpeter A, Lyon JG, Korbutt GS, Bleackley RC. Insulin expressing cells from differentiated embryonic stem cells are not beta cells. Diabetologia 2004; 47:499-508. [PMID: 14968299 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-004-1349-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2003] [Revised: 12/15/2003] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
AIM/HYPOTHESIS Embryonic stem (ES) cells have been proposed as a potential source of tissue for transplantation for the treatment of Type 1 diabetes. However, studies showing differentiation of beta cells from ES cells are controversial. The aim of this study was to characterise the insulin-expressing cells differentiated in vitro from ES cells and to assess their suitability for the treatment of diabetes. METHODS ES cell-derived insulin-expressing cells were characterised by means of immunocytochemistry, RT-PCR and functional analyses. Activation of the Insulin I promoter during ES-cell differentiation was assessed in ES-cell lines transfected with a reporter gene. ES cell-derived cultures were transplanted into STZ-treated SCID-beige mice and blood glucose concentrations of diabetic mice were monitored for 3 weeks. RESULTS Insulin-stained cells differentiated from ES cells were devoid of typical beta-cell granules, rarely showed immunoreactivity for C-peptide and were mostly apoptotic. The main producers of proinsulin/insulin in these cultures were neurons and neuronal precursors and a reporter gene under the control of the insulin I promoter was activated in cells with a neuronal phenotype. Insulin was released into the incubation medium but the secretion was not glucose-dependent. When the cultures were transplanted in diabetic mice they formed teratomas and did not reverse the hyperglycaemic state. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION Our studies show that insulin-positive cells in vitro-differentiated from ES cells are not beta cells and suggest that alternative protocols, based on enrichment of ES cell-derived cultures with cells of the endodermal lineage, should be developed to generate true beta cells for the treatment of diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Sipione
- Department of Biochemistry, 460 Medical Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - A Eshpeter
- Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - J G Lyon
- Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - G S Korbutt
- Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - R C Bleackley
- Department of Biochemistry, 460 Medical Sciences Building, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2H7, Canada.
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William DA, Su Y, Smith MR, Lu M, Baldwin DA, Wagner D. Genomic identification of direct target genes of LEAFY. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2004; 101:1775-80. [PMID: 14736918 PMCID: PMC341852 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0307842100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 164] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2003] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The switch from vegetative to reproductive development in plants necessitates a switch in the developmental program of the descendents of the stem cells in the shoot apical meristem. Genetic and molecular investigations have demonstrated that the plant-specific transcription factor and meristem identity regulator LEAFY (LFY) controls this developmental transition by inducing expression of a second transcription factor, APETALA1, and by regulating the expression of additional, as yet unknown, genes. Here we show that the additional LFY targets include the APETALA1-related factor, CAULIFLOWER, as well as three transcription factors and two putative signal transduction pathway components. These genes are up-regulated by LFY even when protein synthesis is inhibited and, hence, appear to be direct targets of LFY. Supporting this conclusion, cis-regulatory regions upstream of these genes are bound by LFY in vivo. The newly identified LFY targets likely initiate the transcriptional changes that are required for the switch from vegetative to reproductive development in Arabidopsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilusha A William
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, 415 South University Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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