Widespread employment of conserved C. elegans homeobox genes in neuronal identity specification

• DOI: 10.1101/2022.04.29.490095
• Publication Date: 2022-05-02T17:00:14Z
• Authors: Molly B. Reilly; Tessa Tekieli; Cyril Cros; G. Robert Aguilar; James Lao; Itai Antoine Toker; Berta Vidal; Eduardo Leyva-Díaz; Abhishek Bhattach...; Steven J. Cook; Jayson J. Smith; Ismar Kovacevic; Burcu Gulez; Robert Fernandez; Elizabeth F. Brad...; Yasmin H. Ramadan; Paschalis Kratsios; Zhirong Bao; Oliver Hobert
• Keywords: Homeobox A1; Homeobox protein Nkx-2.5; HNF1B; EMX2; DLX5; CDX2

ABSTRACT Homeobox genes are prominent regulators of neuronal identity, but the extent to which their function has been probed in animal nervous systems remains limited. In nematode Caenorhabditis elegans , each individual neuron class is defined by expression unique combinations homeobox genes, prompting question whether indeed requires a gene for its proper identity specification. We present here progress addressing this extending previous mutant analysis family members and describing multiple examples different parts C. system. To probe function, we make use number reporter tools, including novel multicolor transgene, NeuroPAL, permits simultaneous monitoring execution differentiation programs throughout entire Using these add characterization identifying defects 12 20 distinct classes that mostly unrelated location, lineage history. 10 had no ascribed them before, while other classes, extend combinatorial code transcription factors required specifying terminal programs. Furthermore, demonstrate particular lineage, homeotic transformations occur upon loss show result changes codes. Combining with past analysis, 111 118 now known require Such broad deployment indicates specification may be an ancestral feature systems.