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ILF-3 is a regulator of the neural plate border marker Zic1 in chick embryos
K J Fishwick1, E Kim, M E Bronner
1Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, USA.
Background:
The neural crest is a multipotent cell type unique to the vertebrate lineage and capable of differentiating into a large number of varied cell types, including ganglia of the peripheral nervous system, cartilage, and glia. An early step in neural crest specification occurs at the neural plate border, a region defined by the overlap of transcription factors of the Zic, Msx, and Pax families.
Results:
Here we identify a novel chick gene with close homology to double-stranded RNA-binding protein Interleukin enhancer binding factor 3 (ILF-3) in other species. Our results show that chick Ilf-3 is required for proper expression of the transcription factor, Zic-1, at the neural plate border.
Conclusion:
We have identified a novel chick gene and show it has a role in the correct specification of Zic-1 at the neural plate border.
