Abstract
Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) provide the only output of the retina, with their axons projecting to central nervous system targets. The combinatorial roles of homeodomain (HD) and basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors (TFs) determine RGC differentiation. The Class IV POU-domain proteins, BRN3a, BRN3b, and BRN3c, are all expressed in RGC. However, only Brn3b deletion leads to a major defect in RGC differentiation and axonal guidance. Dlx1/Dlx2 double knockout mice have 33% loss of late-born RGCs. Vax2 is restricted to ventral RGC and maintains ventral RGC axonal projections to their target, the medial rostral superior colliculus (SC). Isl1 defines a distinct but overlapping subpopulation of RGCs with Brn3b, whereas Isl2 specifies the contralateral projection of RGC axons.
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Zhang, Q., Eisenstat, D.D. (2012). Roles of Homeobox Genes in Retinal Ganglion Cell Differentiation and Axonal Guidance. In: LaVail, M., Ash, J., Anderson, R., Hollyfield, J., Grimm, C. (eds) Retinal Degenerative Diseases. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 723. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0631-0_87
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0631-0_87
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