Eye development in both invertebrates and vertebrates is regulated by a network of highly conserved transcription factors. However, it is not known what controls the expression of these factors to regulate early eye formation and whether transmembrane signaling events are involved. Here we establish a role for signaling via a member of the frizzled family of receptors in regulating early eye de...

One of the central issues in developmental neurobiology is how the forebrain is organized ontogenetically. The traditional view is that the anterior neuroectoderm first develops into mesencephalic and prosencephalic vesicles; the latter vesicle subsequently develops into the diencephalon and secondary prosencephalon, of which dorsal parts protrude to generate the telencephalon. The diencephalon...

Otx genes are a class of vertebrate homeobox genes, homologous to the orthodenticle gene of Drosophila melanogaster, that play a crucial role in anterior embryo patterning and sensory organ formation. In the frog, Xenopus laevis, at least three members of this class have been isolated: otx1, otx2 and otx5 (crx); they are involved in regulating both shared and differential processes during frog ...

Several eye-field transcription factors (EFTFs) are expressed in the anterior region of the vertebrate neural plate and are essential for eye formation. The Xenopus EFTFs ET, Rx1, Pax6, Six3, Lhx2, tll and Optx2 are expressed in a dynamic, overlapping pattern in the presumptive eye field. Expression of an EFTF cocktail with Otx2 is sufficient to induce ectopic eyes outside the nervous system at...

Abstract Choroid plexus (CP) neoplasms are rare, predominantly pediatric, brain tumors ranging from benign CP papilloma to aggressive carcinoma (CPC) associated with poor survival. Survivors often experience devastating side effects current treatment strategies. There is an urgent need for safer, more effective therapies CPC. A subset of human CPC exhibits abnormal NOTCH activity, whereas mutat...

Gbx2 is a homeobox-containing transcription factor that is related to unplugged in Drosophila. In mice, Gbx2 and Otx2 negatively regulate each other to establish the mid-hindbrain boundary in the neural tube. Here, we show that Gbx2 is required for the development of the mouse inner ear. Absence of the endolymphatic duct and swelling of the membranous labyrinth are common features in Gbx2-/- in...

Understanding the compartmentalization of the neocortex (isocortex) of the mammalian brain into functional areas is a challenging problem [1-3] . Unlike pattern formation in the spinal cord and hindbrain, it does not involve the specification of distinct cells types: distinct areas differ in their patterns of connectivity and cytoarchitecture. It has been suggested that signals intrinsic to the...

There is emerging evidence for the involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the regulation of stem cells and cellular differentiation. Absence of the ROS-generating NADPH oxidase NOX2 in chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) patients, predominantly manifests as immune deficiency, but has also been associated with decreased cognition. Here, we investigate the role of NOX enzymes in neuronal...