PMID:16339193

Citation	Prakash, N, Brodski, C, Naserke, T, Puelles, E, Gogoi, R, Hall, A, Panhuysen, M, Echevarria, D, Sussel, L, Weisenhorn, DM, Martinez, S, Arenas, E, Simeone, A and Wurst, W (2006) A Wnt1-regulated genetic network controls the identity and fate of midbrain-dopaminergic progenitors in vivo. Development 133:89-98
Abstract	Midbrain neurons synthesizing the neurotransmitter dopamine play a central role in the modulation of different brain functions and are associated with major neurological and psychiatric disorders. Despite the importance of these cells, the molecular mechanisms controlling their development are still poorly understood. The secreted glycoprotein Wnt1 is expressed in close vicinity to developing midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Here, we show that Wnt1 regulates the genetic network, including Otx2 and Nkx2-2, that is required for the establishment of the midbrain dopaminergic progenitor domain during embryonic development. In addition, Wnt1 is required for the terminal differentiation of midbrain dopaminergic neurons at later stages of embryogenesis. These results identify Wnt1 as a key molecule in the development of midbrain dopaminergic neurons in vivo. They also suggest the Wnt1-controlled signaling pathway as a promising target for new therapeutic strategies in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
Links	PubMed Online version:10.1242/dev.02181
Keywords	Animals; Cell Differentiation/physiology; Immunohistochemistry; In Situ Hybridization; Mesencephalon/embryology; Mesencephalon/metabolism; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Microspheres; Neurons/metabolism; Neurons/physiology; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Signal Transduction/physiology; Stem Cells/metabolism; Stem Cells/physiology; Wnt1 Protein/metabolism
edit table

Annotations

Gene product	Qualifier	GO ID	GO term name	Evidence Code	with/from	Aspect	Notes	Status
edit table

References

See Help:References for how to manage references in GONUTS.