Emerging Roles for Hox Proteins in the Last Steps of Neuronal Development in Worms, Flies, and Mice
A remarkable diversity of cell types characterizes every animal nervous system. Previous studies provided important insights into how neurons commit to a particular fate, migrate to the right place and form precise axodendritic patterns. However, the mechanisms controlling later steps of neuronal de...
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| Format: | Article |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2021.801791/full |
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| author | Weidong Feng Weidong Feng Weidong Feng Yinan Li Yinan Li Yinan Li Paschalis Kratsios Paschalis Kratsios |
| author_facet | Weidong Feng Weidong Feng Weidong Feng Yinan Li Yinan Li Yinan Li Paschalis Kratsios Paschalis Kratsios |
| author_sort | Weidong Feng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A remarkable diversity of cell types characterizes every animal nervous system. Previous studies provided important insights into how neurons commit to a particular fate, migrate to the right place and form precise axodendritic patterns. However, the mechanisms controlling later steps of neuronal development remain poorly understood. Hox proteins represent a conserved family of homeodomain transcription factors with well-established roles in anterior-posterior (A-P) patterning and the early steps of nervous system development, including progenitor cell specification, neuronal migration, cell survival, axon guidance and dendrite morphogenesis. This review highlights recent studies in Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster and mice that suggest new roles for Hox proteins in processes occurring during later steps of neuronal development, such as synapse formation and acquisition of neuronal terminal identity features (e.g., expression of ion channels, neurotransmitter receptors, and neuropeptides). Moreover, we focus on exciting findings suggesting Hox proteins are required to maintain synaptic structures and neuronal terminal identity during post-embryonic life. Altogether, these studies, in three model systems, support the hypothesis that certain Hox proteins are continuously required, from early development throughout post-embryonic life, to build and maintain a functional nervous system, significantly expanding their functional repertoire beyond the control of early A-P patterning. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T21:24:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f3f724b0d95a4075aedce75b45c9f434 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-453X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T21:24:01Z |
| publishDate | 2022-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-f3f724b0d95a4075aedce75b45c9f4342022-12-21T20:05:11ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neuroscience1662-453X2022-02-011510.3389/fnins.2021.801791801791Emerging Roles for Hox Proteins in the Last Steps of Neuronal Development in Worms, Flies, and MiceWeidong Feng0Weidong Feng1Weidong Feng2Yinan Li3Yinan Li4Yinan Li5Paschalis Kratsios6Paschalis Kratsios7Department of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United StatesUniversity of Chicago Neuroscience Institute, Chicago, IL, United StatesCommittee on Development, Regeneration, and Stem Cell Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United StatesDepartment of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United StatesUniversity of Chicago Neuroscience Institute, Chicago, IL, United StatesCommittee on Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United StatesDepartment of Neurobiology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United StatesUniversity of Chicago Neuroscience Institute, Chicago, IL, United StatesA remarkable diversity of cell types characterizes every animal nervous system. Previous studies provided important insights into how neurons commit to a particular fate, migrate to the right place and form precise axodendritic patterns. However, the mechanisms controlling later steps of neuronal development remain poorly understood. Hox proteins represent a conserved family of homeodomain transcription factors with well-established roles in anterior-posterior (A-P) patterning and the early steps of nervous system development, including progenitor cell specification, neuronal migration, cell survival, axon guidance and dendrite morphogenesis. This review highlights recent studies in Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster and mice that suggest new roles for Hox proteins in processes occurring during later steps of neuronal development, such as synapse formation and acquisition of neuronal terminal identity features (e.g., expression of ion channels, neurotransmitter receptors, and neuropeptides). Moreover, we focus on exciting findings suggesting Hox proteins are required to maintain synaptic structures and neuronal terminal identity during post-embryonic life. Altogether, these studies, in three model systems, support the hypothesis that certain Hox proteins are continuously required, from early development throughout post-embryonic life, to build and maintain a functional nervous system, significantly expanding their functional repertoire beyond the control of early A-P patterning.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2021.801791/fullneuronal developmentterminal identityHox genestranscription factorsterminal selectorssynapse formation |
| spellingShingle | Weidong Feng Weidong Feng Weidong Feng Yinan Li Yinan Li Yinan Li Paschalis Kratsios Paschalis Kratsios Emerging Roles for Hox Proteins in the Last Steps of Neuronal Development in Worms, Flies, and Mice Frontiers in Neuroscience neuronal development terminal identity Hox genes transcription factors terminal selectors synapse formation |
| title | Emerging Roles for Hox Proteins in the Last Steps of Neuronal Development in Worms, Flies, and Mice |
| title_full | Emerging Roles for Hox Proteins in the Last Steps of Neuronal Development in Worms, Flies, and Mice |
| title_fullStr | Emerging Roles for Hox Proteins in the Last Steps of Neuronal Development in Worms, Flies, and Mice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Emerging Roles for Hox Proteins in the Last Steps of Neuronal Development in Worms, Flies, and Mice |
| title_short | Emerging Roles for Hox Proteins in the Last Steps of Neuronal Development in Worms, Flies, and Mice |
| title_sort | emerging roles for hox proteins in the last steps of neuronal development in worms flies and mice |
| topic | neuronal development terminal identity Hox genes transcription factors terminal selectors synapse formation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2021.801791/full |
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