First published online July 11, 2006
Development 133, 1501e (2006)
© The Company of Biologists Limited
Roof plate signals cerebellar development
In the developing central nervous system, neural specification is often
controlled by signals secreted from local signalling centres. The cerebellar
territory, for example, is initially established by the isthmus (a signalling
centre at the mid-hindbrain junction), but what specifies the neural cell
types within this territory is unclear. Chizhikov and co-workers now report
that the roof plate of dorsal rhombomere 1 (r1; the neural tube region that
becomes cerebellum) is a signalling centre for multiple aspects of cerebellar
patterning (see p.
2793). The researchers define several cell populations in the
cerebellar anlage using gene expression and fate mapping studies. They then
show that secreted signals from the r1 roof plate are necessary and sufficient
for the specification of the adjacent cerebellar rhombic lip. These signals
are not, however, absolutely needed to specify more distal cerebellar regions
but instead regulate progenitor proliferation and cell position throughout the
anlage. Thus, the researchers conclude, the r1 roof plate is a second,
important signalling centre during cerebellar development.
Related articles in Development:
- The roof plate regulates cerebellar cell-type specification and proliferation
- Victor V. Chizhikov, Anne G. Lindgren, D. Spencer Currle, Matthew F. Rose, Edwin S. Monuki, and Kathleen J. Millen
Development 2006 133: 2793-2804.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
