Spiel ohne grenzen/pou2 is required for zebrafish hindbrain segmentation

Item Type:	Article
Title:	Spiel ohne grenzen/pou2 is required for zebrafish hindbrain segmentation
Creators Name:	Hauptmann, G. and Belting, H.G. and Wolke, U. and Lunde, K. and Soell, I. and Abdelilah-Seyfried, S. and Prince, V. and Driever, W.
Abstract:	Segmentation of the vertebrate hindbrain leads to the formation of a series of rhombomeres with distinct identities. In mouse, Krox20 and kreisler play important roles in specifying distinct rhombomeres and in controlling segmental identity by directly regulating rhombomere-specific expression of Hox genes. We show that spiel ohne grenzen (spg) zebrafish mutants develop rhombomeric territories that are abnormal in both size and shape. Rhombomere boundaries are malpositioned or absent and the segmental pattern of neuronal differentiation is perturbed. Segment-specific expression of hoxa2, hoxb2 and hoxb3 is severely affected during initial stages of hindbrain development in spg mutants and the establishment of krx20 (Krox20 ortholog) and valentino (val; kreisler ortholog) expression is impaired. spg mutants carry loss-of-function mutations in the pou2 gene. pou2 is expressed at high levels in the hindbrain primordium of wild-type embryos prior to activation of krx20 and val. Widespread overexpression of Pou2 can rescue the segmental krx20 and val domains in spg mutants, but does not induce ectopic expression of these genes. This suggests that spg/pou2 acts in a permissive manner and is essential for normal expression of krx20 and val. We propose that spg/pou2 is an essential component of the regulatory cascade controlling hindbrain segmentation and acts before krx20 and val in the establishment of rhombomere precursor territories.
Keywords:	Rhombomere, Hox Genes, EphA4, Krox20, Krx20, Rtkl, Spg, Valentino, Danio Rerio
Source:	Development
ISSN:	0950-1991
Publisher:	Company of Biologists
Volume:	129
Number:	7
Page Range:	1645-1655
Date:	1 April 2002
Official Publication:	http://dev.biologists.org/cgi/content/abstract/129/7/1645
PubMed:	View item in PubMed

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