C. elegans SoxB genes are dispensable for embryonic neurogenesis but required for terminal differentiation of specific neuron types Journal Article

   

Authors:	Vidal, B.; Santella, A.; Serrano-Sai, E.; Bao, Z.; Chuang, C. F.; Hobert, O.
Article Title:	C. elegans SoxB genes are dispensable for embryonic neurogenesis but required for terminal differentiation of specific neuron types
Abstract:	Neurogenesis involves deeply conserved patterning molecules, such as the proneural basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors. Sox proteins and specifically members of the SoxB and SoxC groups are another class of conserved transcription factors with an important role in neuronal fate commitment and differentiation in various species. In this study, we examine the expression of all five Sox genes of the nematode C. elegans and analyze the effect of null mutant alleles of all members of the SoxB and SoxC groups on nervous system development. Surprisingly, we find that, unlike in other systems, neither of the two C. elegans SoxB genes sox-2 (SoxB1) and sox-3 (SoxB2), nor the sole C. elegans SoxC gene sem-2, is broadly expressed throughout the embryonic or adult nervous system and that all three genes are mostly dispensable for embryonic neurogenesis. Instead, sox-2 is required to maintain the developmental potential of blast cells that are generated in the embryo but divide only postembryonically to give rise to differentiated neuronal cell types. Moreover, sox-2 and sox-3 have selective roles in the terminal differentiation of specific neuronal cell types. Our findings suggest that the common themes of SoxB gene function across phylogeny lie in specifying developmental potential and, later on, in selectively controlling terminal differentiation programs of specific neuron types, but not in broadly controlling neurogenesis. © 2015, Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.
Keywords:	controlled study; nonhuman; allele; embryo; embryo development; gene function; caenorhabditis elegans; nerve cell differentiation; nervous system development; neurogenesis; transcription factor sox; molecular phylogeny; blast cell; larval development; priority journal; article; sox genes
Journal Title:	Development
Volume:	142
Issue:	14
ISSN:	0950-1991
Publisher:	Company of Biologists
Date Published:	2015-07-15
Start Page:	2464
End Page:	2477
Language:	English
DOI:	10.1242/dev.125740
PROVIDER:	scopus
PUBMED:	26153233
PMCID:	PMC4510870
DOI/URL:	http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84937820338&partnerID=40&md5=f5400e5a92e22e5eef13355c9a349520
Notes:	Export Date: 2 September 2015 -- Source: Scopus

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