Abstract
During primary neurogenesis in Xenopus, a cascade of helix-loop-helix (HLH) transcription factors regulates neuronal determination and differentiation. While XNeuroD functions at a late step in this cascade to regulate neuronal differentiation, the factors that carry out terminal differentiation are still unknown. We have isolated a new Xenopus member of the Ebf/Olf-1 family of HLH transcription factors, Xebf3, and provide evidence that, during primary neurogenesis, it regulates neuronal differentiation downstream of XNeuroD. In developing Xenopus embryos, Xebf3 is turned on in the three stripes of primary neurons at stage 15.5, after XNeuroD. In vitro, XEBF3 binds the EBF/OLF-1 binding site and functions as a transcriptional activator. When overexpressed, Xebf3 is able to induce ectopic neurons at neural plate stages and directly convert ectodermal cells into neurons in animal cap explants. Expression of Xebf3 can be activated by XNeuroD both in whole embryos and in animal caps, indicating that this new HLH factor might be regulated by XNeuroD. Furthermore, in animal caps, XNeuroD can activate Xebf3 in the absence of protein synthesis, suggesting that, in vitro, this regulation is direct. Similar to XNeuroD, but unlike Xebf2/Xcoe2, Xebf3 expression and function are insensitive to Delta/Notch-mediated lateral inhibition. In summary, we conclude that Xebf3 functions downstream of XNeuroD and is a regulator of neuronal differentiation in Xenopus.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 495-512 |
| Number of pages | 18 |
| Journal | Developmental Biology |
| Volume | 233 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - May 15 2001 |
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Keywords
- Ebf
- HLH transcription factor
- Olf-1 homolog
- Primary neurogenesis
- Xenopus laevis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Developmental Biology
Cite this
Xebf3 is a regulator of neuronal differentiation during primary neurogenesis in Xenopus. / Pozzoli, Ombretta; Bosetti, Alessandro; Croci, Laura; Consalez, G. Giacomo; Vetter, Monica L.
In: Developmental Biology, Vol. 233, No. 2, 15.05.2001, p. 495-512.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Xebf3 is a regulator of neuronal differentiation during primary neurogenesis in Xenopus
AU - Pozzoli, Ombretta
AU - Bosetti, Alessandro
AU - Croci, Laura
AU - Consalez, G. Giacomo
AU - Vetter, Monica L.
PY - 2001/5/15
Y1 - 2001/5/15
N2 - During primary neurogenesis in Xenopus, a cascade of helix-loop-helix (HLH) transcription factors regulates neuronal determination and differentiation. While XNeuroD functions at a late step in this cascade to regulate neuronal differentiation, the factors that carry out terminal differentiation are still unknown. We have isolated a new Xenopus member of the Ebf/Olf-1 family of HLH transcription factors, Xebf3, and provide evidence that, during primary neurogenesis, it regulates neuronal differentiation downstream of XNeuroD. In developing Xenopus embryos, Xebf3 is turned on in the three stripes of primary neurons at stage 15.5, after XNeuroD. In vitro, XEBF3 binds the EBF/OLF-1 binding site and functions as a transcriptional activator. When overexpressed, Xebf3 is able to induce ectopic neurons at neural plate stages and directly convert ectodermal cells into neurons in animal cap explants. Expression of Xebf3 can be activated by XNeuroD both in whole embryos and in animal caps, indicating that this new HLH factor might be regulated by XNeuroD. Furthermore, in animal caps, XNeuroD can activate Xebf3 in the absence of protein synthesis, suggesting that, in vitro, this regulation is direct. Similar to XNeuroD, but unlike Xebf2/Xcoe2, Xebf3 expression and function are insensitive to Delta/Notch-mediated lateral inhibition. In summary, we conclude that Xebf3 functions downstream of XNeuroD and is a regulator of neuronal differentiation in Xenopus.
AB - During primary neurogenesis in Xenopus, a cascade of helix-loop-helix (HLH) transcription factors regulates neuronal determination and differentiation. While XNeuroD functions at a late step in this cascade to regulate neuronal differentiation, the factors that carry out terminal differentiation are still unknown. We have isolated a new Xenopus member of the Ebf/Olf-1 family of HLH transcription factors, Xebf3, and provide evidence that, during primary neurogenesis, it regulates neuronal differentiation downstream of XNeuroD. In developing Xenopus embryos, Xebf3 is turned on in the three stripes of primary neurons at stage 15.5, after XNeuroD. In vitro, XEBF3 binds the EBF/OLF-1 binding site and functions as a transcriptional activator. When overexpressed, Xebf3 is able to induce ectopic neurons at neural plate stages and directly convert ectodermal cells into neurons in animal cap explants. Expression of Xebf3 can be activated by XNeuroD both in whole embryos and in animal caps, indicating that this new HLH factor might be regulated by XNeuroD. Furthermore, in animal caps, XNeuroD can activate Xebf3 in the absence of protein synthesis, suggesting that, in vitro, this regulation is direct. Similar to XNeuroD, but unlike Xebf2/Xcoe2, Xebf3 expression and function are insensitive to Delta/Notch-mediated lateral inhibition. In summary, we conclude that Xebf3 functions downstream of XNeuroD and is a regulator of neuronal differentiation in Xenopus.
KW - Ebf
KW - HLH transcription factor
KW - Olf-1 homolog
KW - Primary neurogenesis
KW - Xenopus laevis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0035873574&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0035873574&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1006/dbio.2001.0230
DO - 10.1006/dbio.2001.0230
M3 - Article
C2 - 11336510
AN - SCOPUS:0035873574
VL - 233
SP - 495
EP - 512
JO - Developmental Biology
JF - Developmental Biology
SN - 0012-1606
IS - 2
ER -