Click here to close Hello! We notice that you are using Internet Explorer, which is not supported by Xenbase and may cause the site to display incorrectly. We suggest using a current version of Chrome, FireFox, or Safari.
XB-ART-48976
Cell 1998 Oct 02;951:67-80.
Show Gene links Show Anatomy links

Specification of motor neuron identity by the MNR2 homeodomain protein.

Tanabe Y, William C, Jessell TM.


???displayArticle.abstract???
Sonic hedgehog signaling controls the differentiation of motor neurons in the ventral neural tube, but the intervening steps are poorly understood. A differential screen of a cDNA library derived from a single Shh-induced motor neuron has identified a novel homeobox gene, MNR2, expressed by motor neuron progenitors and transiently by postmitotic motor neurons. The ectopic expression of MNR2 in neural cells initiates a program of somatic motor neuron differentiation characterized by the expression of homeodomain proteins, by neurotransmitter phenotype, and by axonal trajectory. Our results suggest that the Shh-mediated induction of a single transcription factor, MNR2, is sufficient to direct somatic motor neuron differentiation.

???displayArticle.pubmedLink??? 9778248
???displayArticle.link??? Cell
???displayArticle.grants??? [+]

Species referenced: Xenopus
Genes referenced: mnx1 shh
???displayArticle.antibodies??? Mnx1 Ab1