Proliferating neural progenitors in the developing CNS of zebrafish require Jagged2 and Jagged1b

Mol Cells. 2010 Aug;30(2):155-9. doi: 10.1007/s10059-010-0101-4. Epub 2010 Jul 23.

Abstract

In the central nervous system (CNS), giving rise to the diversity and the complexity of neurons is the spatial and temporal differentiation of neural stem cells and/or neural precursors. Here, we investigated the role of Jagged-mediated Notch signaling in the maintenance and differentiation of progenitor cells during late neurogenesis by analyzing the expression patterns of zebrafish jagged homologues, and by injecting their morpholinos. Expression of both jagged2 and jagged1b mRNA in the CNS suggested that they might be involved in control of differentiating neural progenitors in which they are involved later in development. In Jagged2 and Jagged1b knock-down embryos, the overall rate of cell division dramatically decreased, and the ectopic VeMe neurons were generated. The results suggest that Jagged-Notch signaling plays a critical role in the maintenance of proliferating neural precursors, and that the generation of late-born neurons, especially VeMe neurons, is regulated by the interplay between Jagged2 and Jagged1b.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Central Nervous System / cytology*
  • Central Nervous System / embryology*
  • Central Nervous System / metabolism
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian / cytology
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Jagged-2 Protein
  • Neural Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Neural Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Receptors, Notch
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Zebrafish / embryology*
  • Zebrafish Proteins / genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Jag3 protein, zebrafish
  • Jagged-2 Protein
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Notch
  • Zebrafish Proteins
  • jag2b protein, zebrafish