1: Dev Biol. 2002 Sep 1;249(1):30-43. 

GATA proteins identify a novel ventral interneuron subclass in the developing
chick spinal cord.

Karunaratne A, Hargrave M, Poh A, Yamada T.

Department of Biochemistry, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland,
4072, Australia. a.karunaratne@salk.edu

Members of the GATA transcription factor gene family have been implicated in a
variety of developmental processes, including that of the vertebrate central
nervous system. However, the role of GATA proteins in spinal cord development
remains unresolved. In this study, we investigated the expression and function
of two GATA proteins, GATA2 and GATA3, in the developing chick spinal cord. We
show that both proteins are expressed by a distinct subpopulation of ventral
interneurons that share the same dorsoventral position as CHX10-positive V2
interneurons. However, no coexpression is observed between the two GATA proteins
and CHX10. By in vivo notochord grafting and cyclopamine treatment, we
demonstrate that the spatially restricted pattern of GATA3 expression is
regulated, at least in part, by the signaling molecule Sonic hedgehog. In
addition, we further show that Sonic hedgehog induces GATA3 expression in a
dose-dependent manner. Using in ovo electroporations, we also demonstrate that
GATA2 is upstream of GATA3 in the same epigenetic cascade and that GATA3 is
capable of inducing GATA2 expression in vivo. Furthermore, the ectopically
expressed GATA proteins can repress differentiation of other ventral cell fates,
but not the development of progenitor populations identified by PAX protein
expression. Taken together, our findings strongly suggest an important role for
GATA2 and GATA3 proteins in the establishment of a distinct ventral interneuron
subpopulation in the developing chick spinal cord.

PMID: 12217316 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]


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