Abstract
TAL2 is a member of the basic helix-loop-helix family and is essential for the normal development of the mouse brain. However, the function of TAL2 during brain development is unclear. P19 cells are pluripotent mouse embryonal carcinoma cells that adopt neural fates upon exposure to all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) and culture in suspension. We found that the expression of Tal2 gene was induced in P19 cells after addition of atRA in suspension culture. Tal2 expression was detected within 3 h after the induction, and had nearly returned to basal levels by 24 h. When GFP-tagged TAL2 (GFP-TAL2) was expressed in P19 cells, we observed GFP-TAL2 in the nucleus. Moreover, we showed that atRA and retinoic acid receptor α regulated Tal2 expression. These results demonstrate for the first time that atRA induces Tal2 expression in P19 cells, and suggest that TAL2 commits to the acquisition of neural fate in brain development.
Highlights
Tal[2] expression is induced by all-trans retinoic acid in P19 cells prior to acquisition of neural fate
We showed that all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) and retinoic acid receptor a regulated Tal[2] expression. These results demonstrate for the first time that atRA induces Tal[2] expression in P19 cells, and suggest that TAL2 commits to the acquisition of neural fate in brain development
P19 cells have been used as model cells for the studies of neural differentiation, and these studies have led to the discovery of a number of genes that are important for neural development in vivo[12,24,25]
Summary
Tal[2] expression is induced by all-trans retinoic acid in P19 cells prior to acquisition of neural fate. P19 cells are pluripotent mouse embryonal carcinoma cells that adopt neural fates upon exposure to all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) and culture in suspension. We showed that atRA and retinoic acid receptor a regulated Tal[2] expression These results demonstrate for the first time that atRA induces Tal[2] expression in P19 cells, and suggest that TAL2 commits to the acquisition of neural fate in brain development. AtRA plays an important role in early embryonic development and in differentiation of the nervous system including patterning of the brain, specification of neural cell fate, and stimulation of neurite outgrowth[20,21]. To understand how the neural fate is acquired in early embryonic www.nature.com/scientificreports a Tal[2]
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