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Expression of a Delta homologue in prospective neurons in the chick

Nature volume 375, pages 787–790 (1995)Cite this article

Abstract

THE product of the Delta gene, acting as ligand, and that of the Notch gene, acting as receptor, are key components in a lateral-inhibition signalling pathway that regulates the detailed patterning of many different tissues in Drosophila1–8. During neurogenesis in particular, neural precursors, by expressing Delta, inhibit neighbouring Notch-expressing cells from becoming committed to a neural fate5,9,10. Vertebrates are known to have several Notch genes 11–14, but their functions are unclear and their ligands hitherto unidentified. Here we identify and describe a chick Deltahomologue, C-Delta-1. We show that C-Delta-1 is expressed in prospective neurons during neurogenesis, as new cells are being born and their fates decided. Our data from the chick, combined with parallel evidence fromXenopus15, suggest that both the Delta/ Notch signalling mechanism and its role in neurogenesis have been conserved in vertebrates.

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Author notes

  1. Ajay Chitnis: The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, PO Box 85800, San Diego, California 92186, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Developmental Genetics Laboratory and Organogenesis Laboratory, Imperial Cancer Research Fund Developmental Biology Unit, Zoology Department, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, 0X1 3PS, UK

    Domingos Henrique, Julie Adam, Anna Myat, Ajay Chitnis, Julian Lewis & David Ish-Horowicz

Authors
  1. Domingos Henrique
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  2. Julie Adam
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  3. Anna Myat
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  4. Ajay Chitnis
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  5. Julian Lewis
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  6. David Ish-Horowicz
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Henrique, D., Adam, J., Myat, A. et al. Expression of a Delta homologue in prospective neurons in the chick. Nature 375, 787–790 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/375787a0

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