The potential to induce glial differentiation is conserved betweenDrosophilaand mammalian glial cells missing genes

• DOI: 10.1242/dev.00822
• Publication Date: 2003-10-28T07:44:22Z
• Authors: Yasuno Iwasaki; Toshihiko Hosoya; Hirohide Takebayashi; Yasuhiro Ogawa; Yoshiki Hotta; Kazuhiro Ikenaka
• Keywords: Neuroglia

Drosophila glial cells missing (gcm) is a key gene that determines the fate of stem within nervous system. Two mouse gcm homologs have been identified, but their function in system remains to be elucidated. To investigate function, we constructed retroviral vectors harboring and two Gcm genes. Expression these genes appeared influence fibroblast features. In particular, Gcm1 induced expression astrocyte-specific Ca(2+)-binding protein, S100beta, those cells. Introduction cultured from embryonic brains resulted induction an astrocyte lineage. This effect was also observed by utero injection retrovirus into brain. However, cultures Gcm1-deficient did not exhibit significant reductions number astrocytes. Furthermore, situ hybridization analysis mRNA revealed distinct patterns comparison with other well-known markers. The mammalian homolog gcm, Gcm1, exhibits potential induce gliogenesis, may generation minor subpopulation