Pax2/8 act redundantly to specify glycinergic and GABAergic fates of multiple spinal interneurons

• DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2008.08.009
• Publication Date: 2008-08-19T08:16:27Z
• Authors: Manuel F. Batista; Katharine E. Lewis
• Keywords: Interneuron

The spinal cord contains several distinct classes of neurons but it is still unclear how many the functional characteristics these cells are specified. One most crucial a neuron its neurotransmitter fate. In this paper, we show that in zebrafish glycinergic and GABAergic interneurons express Pax2a, Pax2b Pax8 transcription factors redundantly required for fates cells. We also demonstrate function Pax2/8 very specific: embryos which simultaneously knocked-down, lose their and/or characteristics, they do not become glutamatergic or cholinergic soma morphologies axon trajectories unchanged. mouse, Pax2 correct specification dorsal horn, other Pax2-expressing neurons. Our results suggest probably due to redundancy with specifying neuronal much broader than was previously appreciated highly conserved between different vertebrates.