Floor plate and motor neuron induction by different concentrations of the amino-terminal cleavage product of sonic hedgehog autoproteolysis

Article Abstract:

Sonic hedgehog (SHH) is a protein that differentiates the floor plate cells in the neural tube and the motor neurons. Different concentrations of amino-terminal product of sonic hedgehog (SHH-N) autoproteolytic cleavage induce differentiation in the floor plate cells and the motor neurons. High concentration of SHH-N induces only floor plate cells differentiation and has no effect on the motor neurons and low concentration induces differentiation in the motor neurons. Notochord processing of sonic hedgehog into SHH-N induces floor plate and motor neuron in vitro.

Sonic hedgehog induces the differentiation of ventral forebrain neurons: a common signal for ventral patterning within the neural tube

Article Abstract:

Genetic markers revealed that the Sonic hedgehog (SHH) gene induces the expression of ventral neuronal cell types along the entire rostrocaudal length of the neural tube in vertebrate embryos. Differentiation of cells in the telencephalon is induced by the SHH signal from the rostral diencephalon. Results showed that neurons from both diencephalic and telencephalic levels express the LIM homeodomain protein Isl-1, which is expressed by ventral neurons in the forebrain.

Nervous system, Prosencephalon

Pax6 controls progenitor cell identity and neuronal fate in response to graded Shh signaling

Article Abstract:

The role of the Sonic hedgehog or Shh proteins such as Pax6 and Nkx2.2 in the regulation of neuronal identity was analyzed in ventral progenitor cell populations. In vitro assays of of the progenitor cells indicated the prensence of Pax6 expression that was characterized by a ventral to dorsal gradient. Furthermore, Pax6 acted as an essential intermediary in graded Shh signaling in the caudal neural tube which modulated ventral progenitor cell identity.

Neurons