Brn-3b: a POU domain gene expressed in a subset of retinal ganglion cells

Neuron. 1993 Oct;11(4):689-701. doi: 10.1016/0896-6273(93)90079-7.

Abstract

A search for POU domain transcription factors in human retina cDNA has led to the identification of Brn-3b, a class IV POU domain protein. Immunohistochemical experiments show that chicken, mouse, rabbit, monkey, and human retinas contain Brn-3b exclusively within a subpopulation of ganglion cells. In the adult mouse brain, Brn-3b is found only within cells in the deep layers of the superior colliculus, in the dorsal periaqueductal gray, and in a small cluster of cells in the brain stem near the area postrema. During the immediate postnatal period, cells containing Brn-3b are distributed in a number of regions within the brain stem and cerebellum. These data suggest that Brn-3b plays a role in determining and/or maintaining the identities of a small number of neurons, including a subset of visual system neurons.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Base Sequence
  • Blotting, Western
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Cattle
  • Cell Line
  • Chromosome Mapping
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • DNA Primers
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Gene Expression*
  • Gene Library
  • Humans
  • Hybrid Cells
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Organ Specificity
  • Poly A / analysis
  • Poly A / metabolism
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • RNA / analysis
  • RNA / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Rats
  • Restriction Mapping
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells / cytology
  • Retinal Ganglion Cells / metabolism*
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Transcription Factor Brn-3
  • Transcription Factor Brn-3B
  • Transcription Factors / biosynthesis*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Vertebrates

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • POU4F2 protein, human
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Transcription Factor Brn-3
  • Transcription Factor Brn-3B
  • Transcription Factors
  • Poly A
  • RNA