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Development and Engineering of Dopamine Neurons pp 36–46Cite as

The Role of Otx Genes in Progenitor Domains of Ventral Midbrain

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Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 651))

Abstract

The mesencephalic dopaminergic (mesDA) neurons play a relevant role in the control of movement, behaviour and cognition. Indeed loss and/or abnormal development of mesDA neurons is responsible for Parkinson’s disease as well as for addictive and psychiatric disorders. A wealth of information has been provided on gene functions involved in the molecular mechanism controlling identity, fate and survival of mesDA neurons. Collectively, these studies are contributing to a growing knowledge of the genetic networks required for proper mesDA development, thus disclosing new perspectives for therapeutic approaches of mesDA disorders. Here we will focus on the control exerted by Otx genes in early decisions regulating the differentiation of progenitors located in the ventral midbrain. In this context, the regulatory network involving Otx functional interactions with signalling molecules and transcription factors required to promote or prevent the development of mesDA neurons will be analyzed in detail.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CEINGE Biotecnologie Avanzate and SEMM European School of Molecular Medicine, via Comunale Margherita 481, 80145, Naples, Italy

    Antonio Simeone, Dario Acampora, Daniela Omodei, Pietro Mancuso & Luca Giovanni Di Giovannantonio

  2. Institute of Genetics and Biophysics, Naples, Italy

    Antonio Simeone & Dario Acampora

  3. Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, CSIC and Universidad Miguel Hernàndez, Sant Joan d’Alacant, Spain

    Eduardo Puelles

Authors
  1. Antonio Simeone
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  2. Eduardo Puelles
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  3. Dario Acampora
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  4. Daniela Omodei
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  5. Pietro Mancuso
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  6. Luca Giovanni Di Giovannantonio
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Correspondence to Antonio Simeone .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    R. Jeroen Pasterkamp PhD , Marten P. Smidt PhD  & J. Peter H. Burbach PhD ,  & 

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© 2009 Landes Bioscience and Springer Science+Business Media

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Simeone, A., Puelles, E., Acampora, D., Omodei, D., Mancuso, P., Di Giovannantonio, L.G. (2009). The Role of Otx Genes in Progenitor Domains of Ventral Midbrain. In: Pasterkamp, R.J., Smidt, M.P., Burbach, J.P.H. (eds) Development and Engineering of Dopamine Neurons. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 651. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-0322-8_3

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