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Markers in vertebrate neurogenesis

Nature Reviews Neuroscience volume 2, pages 835–839 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

Embryologists have long used morphological characteristics, and more recently marker genes, to identify neural tissue and to test the neural-inducing activity of specific cell populations and signalling molecules. These markers are also used to assess the function(s) of neural genes themselves. Progression from neural induction to terminal differentiation of neurons is a multistep process, and each step involves the activation and/or repression of genes that can be used as molecular markers for these different events. Here we briefly review these key steps in neurogenesis within the vertebrate central nervous system, and evaluate the markers used to define them. We emphasize the importance of cellular context and an understanding of gene function for interpreting the significance of marker genes.

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Figure 1: Examples of vertebrate neurogenesis.
Figure 2: Specification of neuronal subtype identity in the mouse/chick spinal cord.
Figure 3: Enhancer elements drive gene expression in specific domains.

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Acknowledgements

We thank J. L. Gómez-Skarmeta, E. Farrell and members of the Storey laboratory for comments. We acknowledge the support of the Human Frontier Science Program and the Medical Research Council (MRC). K.G.S. is an MRC Senior Research Fellow.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Division of Cell and Developmental Biology, Wellcome Trust Building, University of Dundee, Dow Street, Dundee, DD1 5EH, UK

    Ruth Diez del Corral & Kate G. Storey

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  1. Ruth Diez del Corral
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  2. Kate G. Storey
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kate G. Storey.

Related links

Related links

DATABASE LINKS

FlyBase

achaete-scute

GenBank

cash4

chordin

ERNI

Krox20

NCAM

NeuroD

NeuroM

noggin

Otx2

p27Xic1

SoxD

XBF-1

Xiro3

X-ngnr-1

Xnr3

Zic2

LocusLink

brachyury

Dbx1

Dbx2

Delta

En2

Hes1

Hes5

Irx3

Mash1

Math1

NeuN

Ngn1

Ngn2

NKL

Nkx2.2

Nkx6.1

Notch

Pax6

Pax7

Phox2b

Sax1

SCG10

Serrate

Shh

Sox1

Sox2

Sox3

TUJ1

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Corral, R., Storey, K. Markers in vertebrate neurogenesis. Nat Rev Neurosci 2, 835–839 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35097587

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