Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Dissection and Culture of Commissural Neurons from Embryonic Spinal Cord
Published on: May 25, 2010
Commissural neuron identity is specified by a homeodomain protein, Mbh1, that is directly downstream of Math1
Rie Saba1, Jane E Johnson, Tetsuichiro Saito
1Department of Development and Differentiation, Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
Abstract:
Proneural basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) proteins are key regulators of neurogenesis. However, downstream target genes of the bHLH proteins remain poorly defined. Mbh1 confers commissural neuron identity in the spinal cord. Enhancer analysis using transgenic mice revealed that Mbh1 expression required an E-box 3' of the Mbh1 gene. Mbh1 expression was lost in Math1 knockout mice, whereas misexpression of Math1 induced ectopic expression of Mbh1. Moreover, Math1 bound the Mbh1 enhancer containing the E-box in vivo and activated gene expression. Generation of commissural neurons by Math1 was inhibited by a dominant negative form of Mbh1. These findings indicate that Mbh1 is necessary and sufficient for the specification of commissural neurons, as a direct downstream target of Math1.
Related Concept Videos
Master Transcription Regulators
Notch Signaling Pathway
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...
Neurulation
Determination
Hedgehog Signaling Pathway

