Foxg1 suppresses early cortical cell fate

Science. 2004 Jan 2;303(5654):56-9. doi: 10.1126/science.1090674.

Abstract

During mammalian cerebral corticogenesis, progenitor cells become progressively restricted in the types of neurons they can produce. The molecular mechanism that determines earlier versus later born neuron fate is unknown. We demonstrate here that the generation of the earliest born neurons, the Cajal-Retzius cells, is suppressed by the telencephalic transcription factor Foxg1. In Foxg1 null mutants, we observed an excess of Cajal-Retzius neuron production in the cortex. By conditionally inactivating Foxg1 in cortical progenitors that normally produce deep-layer cortical neurons, we demonstrate that Foxg1 is constitutively required to suppress Cajal-Retzius cell fate. Hence, the competence to generate the earliest born neurons during later cortical development is actively suppressed but not lost.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Lineage
  • Cerebral Cortex / cytology*
  • Cerebral Cortex / embryology
  • Crosses, Genetic
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Doxycycline / pharmacology
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / metabolism
  • Female
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mutation
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Neurons / cytology*
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Reelin Protein
  • Serine Endopeptidases
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Stem Cells / physiology*
  • Telencephalon / embryology
  • Telencephalon / metabolism
  • Time Factors
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Etv1 protein, mouse
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxd1 protein, mouse
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Reelin Protein
  • Transcription Factors
  • Serine Endopeptidases
  • Doxycycline