Autonomous and nonautonomous functions for Hox/Pbx in branchiomotor neuron development

Dev Biol. 2003 Jan 15;253(2):200-13. doi: 10.1016/s0012-1606(02)00018-0.

Abstract

The vertebrate branchiomotor neurons are organized in a pattern that corresponds with the segments, or rhombomeres, of the developing hindbrain and have identities and behaviors associated with their position along the anterior/posterior axis. These neurons undergo characteristic migrations in the hindbrain and project from stereotyped exit points. We show that lazarus/pbx4, which encodes an essential Hox DNA-binding partner in zebrafish, is required for facial (VIIth cranial nerve) motor neuron migration and for axon pathfinding of trigeminal (Vth cranial nerve) motor axons. We show that lzr/pbx4 is required for Hox paralog group 1 and 2 function, suggesting that Pbx interacts with these proteins. Consistent with this, lzr/pbx4 interacts genetically with hoxb1a to control facial motor neuron migration. Using genetic mosaic analysis, we show that lzr/pbx4 and hoxb1a are primarily required cell-autonomously within the facial motor neurons; however, analysis of a subtle non-cell-autonomous effect indicates that facial motor neuron migration is promoted by interactions amongst the migrating neurons. At the same time, lzr/pbx4 is required non-cell-autonomously to control the pathfinding of trigeminal motor axons. Thus, Pbx/Hox can function both cell-autonomously and non-cell-autonomously to direct different aspects of hindbrain motor neuron behavior.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins*
  • Facial Nerve / embryology
  • Gene Targeting
  • Genes, Homeobox*
  • Glycosyltransferases / genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Mosaicism
  • Motor Neurons / cytology*
  • Neural Pathways / embryology
  • Rhombencephalon / embryology
  • Trigeminal Nerve / embryology
  • Zebrafish / genetics*
  • Zebrafish / growth & development*
  • Zebrafish Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • HOXB1 homeodomain protein
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Pbx4 protein, zebrafish
  • Zebrafish Proteins
  • hoxa2b protein, zebrafish
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • Glycosyltransferases
  • heptosyltransferase