Abstract
Subclasses of motor neurons are generated at different positions along the rostrocaudal axis of the spinal cord. One feature of the rostrocaudal organization of spinal motor neurons is a position-dependent expression of Hox genes, but little is known about how this aspect of motor neuron subtype identity is assigned. We have used the expression profile of Hox-c proteins to define the source and identity of patterning signals that impose motor neuron positional identity along the rostrocaudal axis of the spinal cord. We provide evidence that the convergent activities of FGFs, Gdf11, and retinoid signals originating from Hensen's node and paraxial mesoderm establish and refine the Hox-c positional identity of motor neurons in the developing spinal cord.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
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Body Patterning / physiology
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Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / pharmacology*
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Cells, Cultured
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Chick Embryo
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Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / pharmacology*
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / drug effects
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / physiology
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Growth Differentiation Factors
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Guinea Pigs
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Homeodomain Proteins / genetics*
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Mesoderm / physiology
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Mice
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Motor Neurons / cytology
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Motor Neurons / physiology*
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Organizers, Embryonic / physiology
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Rats
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Signal Transduction / physiology
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Spinal Cord / cytology*
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Spinal Cord / embryology
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Tretinoin / pharmacology*
Substances
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Antineoplastic Agents
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Bone Morphogenetic Proteins
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Gdf11 protein, mouse
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Gdf11 protein, rat
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Growth Differentiation Factors
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Homeodomain Proteins
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Fibroblast Growth Factor 2
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Tretinoin