Nested expression domains of four homeobox genes in developing rostral brain (original) (raw)

Nature volume 358, pages 687–690 (1992)Cite this article

Abstract

INSIGHT into the genetic control of the identity of specific regions along the body axis of vertebrates1 has resulted primarily from the study of vertebrate homologues of regulatory genes operating in the Drosophila trunk2, but little is known about the development of most anterior regions of the body either in flies3,4 or vertebrates. Three Drosophila genes have been identified that are important in controlling the development of the head5–8, two of which, _empty spiracles_5 and _orthodenticle_8, have been cloned and shown to contain a homeobox9–11. We previously cloned and characterized Emxl and Emx2, two mouse genes related to empty spiracles that are expressed in restricted regions of the developing f orebrain, including the presumptive cerebral cortex and olfactory bulbs12. Here we report the identification of Otxl and Otx2, which are related to _orthodenticle_7,8. We have compared the expression domains of the four genes in the developing rostral brain of mouse embryos at a developmental stage, day 10 post coitum, when they are all expressed. Otx2 is expressed in every dorsal and most ventral regions of telencephalon, diencephalon and mesencephalon. The Otx1 expression domain is similar to that of Otx2, but contained within it. The Emx2 expression domain is comprised of dorsal telencephalon and small diencephalic regions, both dorsally and ventrally. Finally, Emxl expression is exclusively confined to the dorsal telencephalon. Thus at the time when regional specification of major brain regions takes place, the expression domains of the four genes seem to be continuous regions contained within each other in the sequence Emxl < Emx2 < Otxl < Otx2.

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Author notes

  1. Massimo Gulisano & Edoardo Boncinelli
    Present address: DIBIT, Istituto Scientifico H. S. Raffaele, Via Olgettina 60, 20132, Milano, Italy

Authors and Affiliations

  1. International Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, CNR, Via Marconi 10, 80125, Naples, Italy
    Antonio Simeone, Dario Acampora, Massimo Gulisano, Anna Stornaiuolo & Edoardo Boncinelli

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  1. Antonio Simeone
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  2. Dario Acampora
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  3. Massimo Gulisano
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  4. Anna Stornaiuolo
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  5. Edoardo Boncinelli
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Simeone, A., Acampora, D., Gulisano, M. et al. Nested expression domains of four homeobox genes in developing rostral brain.Nature 358, 687–690 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1038/358687a0

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