Neurogenin3 Participates in Gliogenesis in the Developing Vertebrate Spinal Cord

[摘要] Tostudytheroleofbasichelix–loop–helix(bHLH)transcriptionfactorsingliogenesis,weexaminedwhetherbHLHtranscriptionfactorswereexpressedinglialprecursorcellsandparticipatedinregulatingoligodendrocyteandastrocytedevelopment.Asassessedbyreversetranscription–polymerasechainreaction(RT-PCR),Neurogenin3(Ngn3)wastransientlyexpressedinbipotentialglialcellsfatedtobecomeeitheroligodendrocytesorastrocytes.MicelackingNgn3displayedalossofNkx2.2expression,atranscriptionfactorrequiredforproperoligodendrogliogenesis.Furthermore,areductionintheexpressionofmyelinbasicprotein(MBP),proteolipidprotein(PLP),andglialfibrillaryacidicprotein(GFAP),markersformatureoligodendrocytesandastrocytes,wasobservedintheNgn3nullmice.OverexpressionofNgn3wassufficienttodriveexpressionfromthePLPpromoterintransientcotransfectionassays.Overall,thedatasuggestthatNgn3mayregulateglialdifferentiationatadevelopmentalstagepriortothesegregationoftheoligodendrocyteandastrocytelineage.

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）

[关键词] bHLH;homeodomain;Ngn3;Nkx2.2;development;differentiation;oligodendrocytes;astrocytes;glia;spinal cord