Premium
10 Otx and emx genes in the developing brain
Author(s) -
Boncinelli E.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
international journal of developmental neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.761
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1873-474X
pISSN - 0736-5748
DOI - 10.1016/0736-5748(96)80205-x
Subject(s) - citation , library science , computer science , psychology , information retrieval
The potential role of homeoproteins as regulators of neurite growth was tested by introducing the homeodomain of Antennapedia mto nerve cells in culture. The wild type homeodomain, but not mutated versions that do not bind target promoters and do not displace the endogenous homeoproteins, enhances neurite elongation by cortical or spinal cord neurons. A direct role for homeoproteins in neurite growth was confirmed by an antisense strategy. In the course of these experiments we observed that the homeodomain of Antennapedia translocates through the plasma membrane and accumuiates m nuclei. The analysis of the mode of translocation has allowed to demonstrate that the 3rd hehx of the homeodomam serves as a signal for translocation. On the basis of the latter observations observations we have hypothesized that full length homeoproteins could translocate from cell to cell. To be valid this proposal requires that full-length homeoproteins be secreted and intecnaltzed. The recent fmdmg that Hex-a5 translocates through the membrane of neurons in culture and is conveyed to their nuclei lends weigth to the hypothesis that homeoproteins could serve as polypeptidic messengers.