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Zic2 is required for neural crest formation and hindbrain patterning during mouse development
Paul Elms1, Pam Siggers, Diane Napper
1Laboratory of Early Development, Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC, Harwell, Oxfordshire, OX11 ORD, UK.
Developmental Biology
|December 4, 2003
Summary
Zic2 is crucial for neural development, impacting neural crest production timing and quantity. This study reveals its new roles in hindbrain patterning and neural crest cell development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Genetics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Zic genes are vertebrate homologues of Drosophila odd-paired, implicated in neural development.
- Proposed roles include neural plate segmentation, neural crest induction, and neurogenesis inhibition.
- Previous studies suggested Zic2's role in neurulation timing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function of Zic2 during early mouse neural development using a loss-of-function allele.
- To identify novel roles of Zic2 in neural crest production and hindbrain patterning.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and analysis of a new loss-of-function Zic2 allele in mice.
- Examination of neural crest production and hindbrain development in Zic2 mutant embryos.
Main Results:
- Zic2 loss-of-function causes delayed neural crest production and reduced cell numbers.
- These defects are independent of neural plate segmentation and dorsal proliferation.
- Zic2 is essential for normal development of rhombomeres 3 and 5 in the hindbrain.
Conclusions:
- Zic genes, specifically Zic2, are genetically implicated in neural crest production.
- Zic2 plays a critical role in hindbrain patterning, specifically for rhombomere development.