Abstract
Retinal development is controlled antagonistically by multiple basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcriptional activators and repressors. bHLH repressors suppress bHLH activators and promote maintenance of progenitors and generation of glial cells. In contrast, bHLH activators override activities of bHLH repressors and promote neuronal differentiation. However, bHLH activators alone are not sufficient but homeodomain factors are additionally required for neuronal subtype specification. It is likely that homeodomain factors regulate the layer specificity but not the neuronal fate while bHLH activators determine the neuronal fate within the homedomain factor-specified layers. Thus, combinations of proper bHLH and homeodomain factors are required for neuronal subtype specification.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Amacrine Cells / cytology
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Amacrine Cells / metabolism
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Animals
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Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
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Cell Differentiation / physiology*
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DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / physiology
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Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs*
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Homeodomain Proteins / physiology
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Humans
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Models, Biological
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / physiology
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Neuroglia / cytology
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Neuroglia / metabolism
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Neurons / cytology
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Neurons / metabolism
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Photoreceptor Cells / cytology
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Photoreceptor Cells / metabolism
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Repressor Proteins / physiology
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Retina / cytology
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Retina / embryology*
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Retina / physiology
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Retinal Ganglion Cells / cytology
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Retinal Ganglion Cells / metabolism
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Signal Transduction / physiology
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Stem Cells / cytology
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Stem Cells / metabolism
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Transcription Factors / physiology*
Substances
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ASCL1 protein, human
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Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Homeodomain Proteins
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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Repressor Proteins
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Transcription Factors
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VSX2 protein, human
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Neurogenic differentiation factor 1