Abstract
BackgroundIn the spinal cord, stereotypic patterns of transcription factor expression uniquely identify neuronal subtypes. These transcription factors function combinatorially to regulate gene expression. Consequently, a single transcription factor may regulate divergent development programs by participation in different combinatorial codes. One such factor, the LIM-homeodomain transcription factor Islet1, is expressed in the vertebrate spinal cord. In mouse, chick and zebrafish, motor and sensory neurons require Islet1 for specification of biochemical and morphological signatures. Little is known, however, about the role that Islet1 might play for development of electrical membrane properties in vertebrates. Here we test for a role of Islet1 in differentiation of excitable membrane properties of zebrafish spinal neurons.ResultsWe focus our studies on the role of Islet1 in two populations of early born zebrafish spinal neurons: ventral caudal primary motor neurons (CaPs) and dorsal sensory Rohon-Beard cells (RBs). We take advantage of transgenic lines that express green fluorescent protein (GFP) to identify CaPs, RBs and several classes of interneurons for electrophysiological study. Upon knock-down of Islet1, cells occupying CaP-like and RB-like positions continue to express GFP. With respect to voltage-dependent currents, CaP-like and RB-like neurons have novel repertoires that distinguish them from control CaPs and RBs, and, in some respects, resemble those of neighboring interneurons. The action potentials fired by CaP-like and RB-like neurons also have significantly different properties compared to those elicited from control CaPs and RBs.ConclusionsOverall, our findings suggest that, for both ventral motor and dorsal sensory neurons, Islet1 directs differentiation programs that ultimately specify electrical membrane as well as morphological properties that act together to sculpt neuron identity.
Highlights
In the spinal cord, stereotypic patterns of transcription factor expression uniquely identify neuronal subtypes
Upon Islet1 knock-down, both dorsal and ventral neurons that occupy the stereotypical positions of Rohon-Beard cell (RB) and motor neurons have novel electrical properties that distinguish them from sensory or motor neurons, respectively, of control embryos
Spinal neurons with large somas persist after knock-down of Islet1 We first examined the effects of Islet1 knock-down on spinal sensory and motor neuron number and morphology
Summary
Stereotypic patterns of transcription factor expression uniquely identify neuronal subtypes. These transcription factors function combinatorially to regulate gene expression. A single transcription factor may regulate divergent development programs by participation in different combinatorial codes. One such factor, the LIM-homeodomain transcription factor Islet, is expressed in the vertebrate spinal cord. About the role that Islet might play for development of electrical membrane properties in vertebrates. HD transcription factors play a role in specification of neuronal electrical membrane properties that reflect a neuron’s identity [6,7,8]. Islet plays a role in specification of mammalian sensory neuron subtypes [17]
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