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A Cre transgenic line for studying V2 neuronal lineages and functions in the spinal cord
Author(s) -
Li Shengguo,
Misra Kamana,
Xiang Mengqing
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
genesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.093
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1526-968X
pISSN - 1526-954X
DOI - 10.1002/dvg.20669
Subject(s) - biology , cre recombinase , neurogenesis , transgene , progenitor , transcription factor , genetically modified mouse , fate mapping , spinal cord , progenitor cell , neuroscience , microbiology and biotechnology , gene knockin , genetics , gene , stem cell
Abstract During spinal neurogenesis, the p2 progenitor domain generates at least two subclasses of interneurons named V2a and V2b, which are components of the locomotor central pattern generator. The winged‐helix/forkhead transcription factor Foxn4 is expressed in a subset of p2 progenitors and required for specifying V2b interneurons. Here, we report the generation of a Foxn4‐Cre BAC transgenic mouse line that drives Cre recombinase expression mimicking endogenous Foxn4 expression pattern in the developing spinal cord. We used this transgenic line to map neuronal lineages derived from Foxn4‐expressing progenitors and found that they gave rise to all neurons of the V2a, V2b, and the newly identified V2c lineages. These data suggest that Foxn4 may be transiently expressed by all p2 progenitors and that the Foxn4‐Cre line may serve as a useful genetic tool not only for lineage analysis but also for functional studies of genes and neurons involved in locomotion. genesis 48:667–672, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.