scholarly journals The mouse Engrailed genes: A window into autism

2007 ◽  
Vol 176 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
B KUEMERLE ◽  
F GULDEN ◽  
N CHEROSKY ◽  
E WILLIAMS ◽  
K HERRUP
Keyword(s):  
Engrailed Genes

Anterior mesendoderm induces mouse Engrailed genes in explant cultures

Development ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 118 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.L. Ang ◽  
J. Rossant
Keyword(s):  
Direct Evidence ◽  
Neural Tissue ◽  
Explant Culture ◽  
Neural Plate ◽  
Explant Cultures ◽  
Neural Marker ◽  
Engrailed Genes ◽  
Anterior Posterior

We have developed germ layer explant culture assays to study the role of mesoderm in anterior-posterior (A-P) patterning of the mouse neural plate. Using isolated explants of ectodermal tissue alone, we have demonstrated that the expression of Engrailed-1 (En-1) and En-2 genes in ectoderm is independent of mesoderm by the mid- to late streak stage, at least 12 hours before their onset of expression in the neural tube in vivo at the early somite stage. In recombination explants, anterior mesendoderm from headfold stage embryos induces the expression of En-1 and En-2 in pre- to early streak ectoderm and in posterior ectoderm from headfold stage embryos. In contrast, posterior mesendoderm from embryos of the same stage does not induce En genes in pre- to early streak ectoderm but is able to induce expression of a general neural marker, neurofilament 160 × 10(3) M(r). These results provide the first direct evidence for a role of mesendoderm in induction and regionalization of neural tissue in mouse.

Characterization of an amphioxus paired box gene, AmphiPax2/5/8: developmental expression patterns in optic support cells, nephridium, thyroid-like structures and pharyngeal gill slits, but not in the midbrain-hindbrain boundary region

Development ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 126 (6) ◽  
pp. 1295-1304 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Kozmik ◽  
N.D. Holland ◽  
A. Kalousova ◽  
J. Paces ◽  
M. Schubert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Central Nervous System ◽  
Nervous System ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Boundary Region ◽  
Developmental Expression ◽  
Developmental Gene Expression ◽  
Expression Evidence ◽  
Engrailed Genes ◽  
Otic Vesicles

On the basis of developmental gene expression, the vertebrate central nervous system comprises: a forebrain plus anterior midbrain, a midbrain-hindbrain boundary region (MHB) having organizer properties, and a rhombospinal domain. The vertebrate MHB is characterized by position, by organizer properties and by being the early site of action of Wnt1 and engrailed genes, and of genes of the Pax2/5/8 subfamily. Wada and others (Wada, H., Saiga, H., Satoh, N. and Holland, P. W. H. (1998) Development 125, 1113–1122) suggested that ascidian tunicates have a vertebrate-like MHB on the basis of ascidian Pax258 expression there. In another invertebrate chordate, amphioxus, comparable gene expression evidence for a vertebrate-like MHB is lacking. We, therefore, isolated and characterized AmphiPax2/5/8, the sole member of this subfamily in amphioxus. AmphiPax2/5/8 is initially expressed well back in the rhombospinal domain and not where a MHB would be expected. In contrast, most of the other expression domains of AmphiPax2/5/8 correspond to expression domains of vertebrate Pax2, Pax5 and Pax8 in structures that are probably homologous - support cells of the eye, nephridium, thyroid-like structures and pharyngeal gill slits; although AmphiPax2/5/8 is not transcribed in any structures that could be interpreted as homologues of vertebrate otic placodes or otic vesicles. In sum, the developmental expression of AmphiPax2/5/8 indicates that the amphioxus central nervous system lacks a MHB resembling the vertebrate isthmic region. Additional gene expression data for the developing ascidian and amphioxus nervous systems would help determine whether a MHB is a basal chordate character secondarily lost in amphioxus. The alternative is that the MHB is a vertebrate innovation.

scholarly journals Spatially Restricted and Developmentally Dynamic Expression of Engrailed Genes in Multiple Cerebellar Cell Types

2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 356-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra L. Wilson ◽  
Anna Kalinovsky ◽  
Grant D. Orvis ◽  
Alexandra L. Joyner
Keyword(s):  
Cell Types ◽  
Dynamic Expression ◽  
Cerebellar Cell ◽  
Engrailed Genes

Coordinate embryonic expression of three zebrafish engrailed genes

Development ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 116 (4) ◽  
pp. 1001-1010 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ekker ◽  
J. Wegner ◽  
M.A. Akimenko ◽  
M. Westerfield
Keyword(s):  
Gene Family ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Zebrafish Embryos ◽  
Sequence Comparisons ◽  
The Third ◽  
Coordinate Expression ◽  
Engrailed Genes ◽  
Myotomal Muscle

We have identified three genes, expressed in zebrafish embryos, that are members of the engrailed gene family. On the basis of sequence comparisons and analyses of their expression patterns, we suggest that two of these genes, eng2 and eng3, are closely related to the En-2 gene of other vertebrates. The third gene, eng1, is probably the zebrafish homolog of En-1. Subsets of cells at the developing junction between the midbrain and hindbrain express three different combinations of these genes, revealing a previously unknown complexity of this region of the CNS. Other cells, for example, jaw and myotomal muscle precursors, express two of the three genes in combinations which, in the myotomal muscles, change during development. Cells in the developing hindbrain and fins express only a single engrailed gene. We propose that the fates and patterning of these cells may be regulated by the coordinate expression of particular combinations of these closely related homeoproteins.

The midbrain-hindbrain boundary genetic cascade is activated ectopically in the diencephalon in response to the widespread expression of one of its components, the medaka gene Ol-eng2

Development ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 126 (17) ◽  
pp. 3769-3779 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Ristoratore ◽  
M. Carl ◽  
K. Deschet ◽  
L. Richard-Parpaillon ◽  
D. Boujard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optic Tectum ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Vertebrate Development ◽  
Medaka Fish ◽  
Knock Out ◽  
Essential Components ◽  
Engrailed Genes ◽  
Narrow Stripe ◽  
Neurula Stage

In vertebrates, the engrailed genes are expressed at early neurula stage in a narrow stripe encompassing the midbrain-hindbrain boundary (MHB), a region from which a peculiar structure, the isthmus, is formed. Knock-out experiments in mice demonstrated that these genes are essential for the development of this structure and of its derivatives. In contrast, little is known about the effect of an overexpression of engrailed genes in vertebrate development. Here we report the isolation of Ol-eng2, a medaka fish (Oryzias latipes) engrailed gene. We have monitored the effects of its widespread expression following mRNA injections in 1- and 2-cell medaka and Xenopus embryos. We found that the ectopic expression of Ol-eng2 predominantly results in an altered development of the anterior brain, including an inhibition of optic vesicle formation. No change in the patterns of mesencephalic and telencephalic markers were observed. In contrast, expressions of markers of the diencephalon were strongly repressed in injected embryos. Furthermore, the endogenous Ol-eng2, Pax2, Wnt1 and Fgf8, which are essential components of the MHB genetic cascade, were ectopically expressed in this region. Therefore, we propose that Ol-eng2 induces de novo formation of an isthmus-like structure, which correlates with the development of ectopic midbrain structures, including optic tectum. A competence of the diencephalon to change to a midbrain fate has been demonstrated in isthmic graft experiments. Our data demonstrate that this change can be mimicked by ectopic engrailed expression alone.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document