PUBLICATION

Spinal neurons require Islet1 for subtype-specific differentiation of electrical excitability

Authors
Moreno, R.L., Ribera, A.B.
ID
ZDB-PUB-140826-11
Date
2014
Source
Neural Development   9: 19 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Ribera, Angie
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian
  • LIM-Homeodomain Proteins/genetics
  • LIM-Homeodomain Proteins/physiology*
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Spinal Cord/embryology*
  • Spinal Cord/metabolism
  • Sensory Receptor Cells/metabolism
  • Sensory Receptor Cells/physiology*
  • Transcription Factors/genetics
  • Transcription Factors/physiology*
  • Motor Neurons/metabolism
  • Motor Neurons/physiology*
  • Interneurons/metabolism
  • Interneurons/physiology
  • Animals
  • Zebrafish
  • Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism
  • Zebrafish Proteins/physiology*
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Membrane Potentials
(all 20)
PubMed
25149090 Full text @ Neural Dev.
Abstract
In the spinal cord, stereotypic patterns of transcription factor expression uniquely identify neuronal subtypes. These transcription factors function combinatorially to regulate gene expression. Consequently, a single transcription factor may regulate divergent development programs by participation in different combinatorial codes. One such factor, the LIM-homeodomain transcription factor Islet1, is expressed in the vertebrate spinal cord. In mouse, chick and zebrafish, motor and sensory neurons require Islet1 for specification of biochemical and morphological signatures. Little is known, however, about the role that Islet1 might play for development of electrical membrane properties in vertebrates. Here we test for a role of Islet1 in differentiation of excitable membrane properties of zebrafish spinal neurons.
We focus our studies on the role of Islet1 in two populations of early born zebrafish spinal neurons: ventral caudal primary motor neurons (CaPs) and dorsal sensory Rohon-Beard cells (RBs). We take advantage of transgenic lines that express green fluorescent protein (GFP) to identify CaPs, RBs and several classes of interneurons for electrophysiological study. Upon knock-down of Islet1, cells occupying CaP-like and RB-like positions continue to express GFP. With respect to voltage-dependent currents, CaP-like and RB-like neurons have novel repertoires that distinguish them from control CaPs and RBs, and, in some respects, resemble those of neighboring interneurons. The action potentials fired by CaP-like and RB-like neurons also have significantly different properties compared to those elicited from control CaPs and RBs.
Overall, our findings suggest that, for both ventral motor and dorsal sensory neurons, Islet1 directs differentiation programs that ultimately specify electrical membrane as well as morphological properties that act together to sculpt neuron identity.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Figure Gallery (4 images)
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Allele Construct Type Affected Genomic Region
js12TgTransgenic Insertion
    ml2TgTransgenic Insertion
      nl6TgTransgenic Insertion
        rw0145TgTransgenic Insertion
          sb4TgTransgenic Insertion
            ym1TgTransgenic Insertion
              zf100TgTransgenic Insertion
                1 - 7 of 7
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                Human Disease / Model
                No data available
                Sequence Targeting Reagents
                Target Reagent Reagent Type
                isl1aMO3-isl1aMRPHLNO
                1 - 1 of 1
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                Fish
                Antibodies
                Name Type Antigen Genes Isotypes Host Organism
                Ab-3A10monoclonal
                  IgG1Mouse
                  zn-12monoclonal
                    IgG1Mouse
                    1 - 2 of 2
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                    Orthology
                    No data available
                    Engineered Foreign Genes
                    Marker Marker Type Name
                    DsRedEFGDsRed
                    EGFPEFGEGFP
                    GFPEFGGFP
                    1 - 3 of 3
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                    Mapping
                    No data available