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The homeotic protein dlk is expressed during peripheral nerve development
P Costaglioli1, C Côme, A Knoll-Gellida
1Ecole Supérieure de Technologie des Biomolécules de Bordeaux, Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, France.
FEBS Letters
|December 26, 2001
Summary
Delta-like protein (dlk) is crucial for peripheral nervous system myelination. Its expression is reduced in the trembler mouse mutant, indicating dlk is required for Schwann cells to achieve a myelinating phenotype.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Myelination is essential for peripheral nervous system function.
- Schwann cells are responsible for myelination in the peripheral nervous system.
- The molecular mechanisms regulating Schwann cell differentiation and myelination are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify genes involved in the control of myelination.
- To investigate the role of delta-like protein (dlk) in Schwann cell myelination.
Main Methods:
- Gene expression profiling using cDNA array.
- Comparison of gene expression between normal mouse sciatic nerves and trembler mutant mouse sciatic nerves.
- Analysis of dlk expression in developing nerves and brain.
Main Results:
- Identified 1176 genes with differential expression between normal and trembler nerves.
- Found reduced delta-like protein (dlk) expression in trembler mice.
- Observed inverse correlation between dlk and myelin protein expression during development.
- No dlk expression detected in the developing brain.
Conclusions:
- Delta-like protein (dlk) expression is down-regulated in a model of peripheral nervous system dysmyelination.
- dlk is likely essential for Schwann cell differentiation and acquisition of the myelinating phenotype.