First published online January 11, 2008
Development 135, 303e (2008)
© The Company of Biologists Limited
Insm1: crucial for sympatho-adrenal differentiation
Neural crest cells generate numerous different cell types in vertebrate
embryos, including the `sympatho-adrenal' precursors. These cells mature into
sympathetic neurons (which control the `fight or flight' response) and adrenal
chromaffin cells (which make adrenalin and noradrenalin). Now, Carmen
Birchmeier and colleagues report that the insulinoma-associated 1
(Insm1) gene, which encodes a zinc-finger transcription factor, is a
central component of the transcriptional network that controls the
differentiation of the sympatho-adrenal lineage (see
p. 473). The
researchers show that the differentiation of sympatho-adrenal precursors is
delayed and their proliferation reduced in Insm1 mutant mice. The
expression of Mash1, Phox2 and other components of the transcriptional network
that controls the differentiation of the sympatho-adrenal lineage is
deregulated in Insm1 mutant mice, they report. In addition,
Insm1 and Mash1 mutant mice have similar phenotypes. Other
data indicate that Insm1 acts downstream of Mash1 and
Phox2b genetically and that Insm1 represses Mash1.
The researchers speculate, therefore, that Insm1 mediates certain aspects of
Mash1 function during the differentiation of sympatho-adrenal precursors.
Related articles in Development:
- Insm1 (IA-1) is a crucial component of the transcriptional network that controls differentiation of the sympatho-adrenal lineage
- Hendrik Wildner, Mathias S. Gierl, Michael Strehle, Patrick Pla, and Carmen Birchmeier
Development 2008 135: 473-481.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
