Sulfatase 1 is a secreted enzyme that modulates the sulfation state of heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs), which are potential key regulators of diverse developmental signals during embryonic patterning. In the present work, we have analyzed the Sulf1 gene expression pattern during chicken forebrain development. Our results indicate that, at early developmental stages, chicken Sulf1 is expressed in the alar and basal plate of the secondary prosencephalon (telencephalon and hypothalamus, respectively) as well as in the diencephalic basal and floor plates. Later in development, Sulf1 is expressed by a subset of nuclei derived from these regions.
2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.