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Lili C Kudo

Publications and source records attributed to Lili C Kudo.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Genetic analysis of anterior posterior expression gradients in the developing mammalian forebrain.

Intrinsic regulatory factors play critical roles in early cortical patterning, including the development of the anteroposterior (A-P) axis. To identify genes that are differentially expressed along the A-P axis of the developing cerebral cortex, we analyzed gene expression in presumptive frontal, parietal, and occipital cerebral walls of E12.5 mouse using complementary DNA microarrays. We identified 106 genes, including expressed sequence tags (ESTs), expressed in an A-P gradient in the embryonic brain and screened 88 by in situ hybridization for confirmation. Central nervous system (CNS) expression patterns of many of these genes were previously unknown. Others, such as Sfrp1, CoupTF1, and FABP7, were expressed in a manner consistent with previous studies, providing independent confirmation. Two related transcription factors, previously not implicated in CNS development, Fhl1 and Fhl2, were observed to be enriched in posterior and anterior telencephalon, respectively. We studied patterning gradients in Fhl1 knockout mice but observed no changes in gene expression related to A-P regionalization in the Fhl1 knockout mice. These data provide an important set of new candidates for studies of cortical patterning and maturation.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Mutations in a human ROBO gene disrupt hindbrain axon pathway crossing and morphogenesis.

The mechanisms controlling axon guidance are of fundamental importance in understanding brain development. Growing corticospinal and somatosensory axons cross the midline in the medulla to reach their targets and thus form the basis of contralateral motor control and sensory input. The motor and sensory projections appeared uncrossed in patients with horizontal gaze palsy with progressive scoliosis (HGPPS). In patients affected with HGPPS, we identified mutations in the ROBO3 gene, which shares homology with roundabout genes important in axon guidance in developing Drosophila, zebrafish, and mouse. Like its murine homolog Rig1/Robo3, but unlike other Robo proteins, ROBO3 is required for hindbrain axon midline crossing.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Parallel FoxP1 and FoxP2 expression in songbird and human brain predicts functional interaction.

Humans and songbirds are two of the rare animal groups that modify their innate vocalizations. The identification of FOXP2 as the monogenetic locus of a human speech disorder exhibited by members of the family referred to as KE enables the first examination of whether molecular mechanisms for vocal learning are shared between humans and songbirds. Here, in situ hybridization analyses for FoxP1 and FoxP2 in a songbird reveal a corticostriatal expression pattern congruent with the abnormalities in brain structures of affected KE family members. The overlap in FoxP1 and FoxP2 expression observed in the songbird suggests that combinatorial regulation by these molecules during neural development and within vocal control structures may occur. In support of this idea, we find that FOXP1 and FOXP2 expression patterns in human fetal brain are strikingly similar to those in the songbird, including localization to subcortical structures that function in sensorimotor integration and the control of skilled, coordinated movement. The specific colocalization of FoxP1 and FoxP2 found in several structures in the bird and human brain predicts that mutations in FOXP1 could also be related to speech disorders.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Global analysis of gene expression in neural progenitors reveals specific cell-cycle, signaling, and metabolic networks.

The genetic programs underlying neural stem cell (NSC) proliferation and pluripotentiality have only been partially elucidated. We compared the gene expression profile of proliferating neural stem cell cultures (NS) with cultures differentiated for 24 h (DC) to identify functionally coordinated alterations in gene expression associated with neural progenitor proliferation. The majority of differentially expressed genes (65%) were upregulated in NS relative to DC. Microarray analysis of this in vitro system was followed by high throughput screening in situ hybridization to identify genes enriched in the germinal neuroepithelium, so as to distinguish those expressed in neural progenitors from those expressed in more differentiated cells in vivo. NS cultures were characterized by the coordinate upregulation of genes involved in cell cycle progression, DNA synthesis, and metabolism, not simply related to general features of cell proliferation, since many of the genes identified were highly enriched in the CNS ventricular zones and not widely expressed in other proliferating tissues. Components of specific metabolic and signal transduction pathways, and several transcription factors, including Sox3, FoxM1, and PTTG1, were also enriched in neural progenitor cultures. We propose a putative network of gene expression linking cell cycle control to cell fate pathways, providing a framework for further investigations of neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation.

Animals↗