Notch activity is downregulated just prior to retinal ganglion cell differentiation

Dev Neurosci. 2006;28(1-2):128-41. doi: 10.1159/000090759.

Abstract

The Notch signaling pathway is important at several stages of retinal development including the differentiation of retinal ganglion cells and Muller glia. The downstream effectors of Notch signaling, Hes1 and Hes5, have been shown to be critical in the retina as well. While Notch activity directly regulates Hes1 and Hes5 elsewhere in the nervous system, it has been unclear whether Hes1 and/or Hes5 are directly regulated by Notch activity in the developing retina. Here, we report that both Hes1 and Hes5 are directly regulated by Notch activity during retinal development. Using fluorescence-based Hes1 and Hes5 reporter constructs, we can monitor Notch activity in progenitor cells in the intact retina, and we find that Notch activity is downregulated just prior to retinal ganglion cell differentiation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics*
  • Chick Embryo
  • Conserved Sequence / genetics
  • Down-Regulation / physiology
  • Evolution, Molecular
  • Eye Proteins / genetics
  • Eye Proteins / metabolism*
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / genetics
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
  • Homeodomain Proteins / metabolism*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic / genetics
  • Receptors, Notch / genetics
  • Receptors, Notch / metabolism*
  • Repressor Proteins / genetics
  • Repressor Proteins / metabolism
  • Retina / cytology
  • Retina / embryology
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells / cytology
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells / metabolism*
  • Stem Cells / cytology
  • Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factor HES-1

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • Eye Proteins
  • Fluorescent Dyes
  • Hes1 protein, mouse
  • Hes5 protein, mouse
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Receptors, Notch
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Transcription Factor HES-1