Expression of Plxdc2/TEM7R in the developing nervous system of the mouse

• Published in: Gene Expression Patterns Vol. 7; no. 5; pp. 635 - 644
• Main Authors: Miller, Suzanne F.C., Summerhurst, Kristen, Rünker, Annette E., Kerjan, Géraldine, Friedel, Roland H., Chédotal, Alain, Murphy, Paula, Mitchell, Kevin J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-04-2007
• Subjects: AER; Animals; apical ectodermal ridge; Brain - embryology; Brain - metabolism; Cajal–Retzius cells; Cerebellar peduncle; Cortical hem; Embryo, Mammalian - cytology; Embryo, Mammalian - metabolism; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Genes, Reporter; Glial wedge; In Situ Hybridization; KST37; Male; Mammillotegmental tract; Mice; Midbrain–hindbrain boundary; OPT; optical projection tomography; PLAP secretory trap; Plxdc1; Plxdc2; Posterior commissure; Purkinje cell layer; Receptors, Cell Surface - genetics; Receptors, Cell Surface - metabolism; RNA Probes; RNA, Messenger - genetics; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; TEM7; TEM7R; Wnt1; Wnt3a; Wnt5a; Wnt8b; Glial wedge; Cortical hem; Midbrain–hindbrain boundary; Cajal–Retzius cells; Posterior commissure; AER; Cerebellar peduncle; OPT; Wnt5a; Purkinje cell layer; Wnt3a; Mammillotegmental tract; TEM7R; KST37; Plxdc2; Wnt8b; Plxdc1; PLAP secretory trap; TEM7; Wnt1
• ISSN: 1567-133X; 1872-7298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.modgep.2006.12.002

Plexin-domain containing 2 (
Plxdc2) is a relatively uncharacterised transmembrane protein with an area of nidogen homology and a plexin repeat (PSI domain) in its extracellular region. Here, we describe
Plxdc2 expression in the embryonic mouse, with particular emphasis on the developing central nervous system. Using light microscopy and optical projection tomography (OPT), we analyse RNA
in situ hybridization patterns and expression of two reporter genes, β-geo (a fusion of β-galactosidase to neomycin phosphotransferase) and placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP) in a
Plxdc2 gene trap mouse line (KST37; [Leighton, P.A., Mitchell, K.J., Goodrich, L.V., Lu, X., Pinson, K., Scherz, P., Skarnes, W.C., Tessier-Lavigne, M., 2001. Defining brain wiring patterns and mechanisms through gene trapping in mice. Nature 410, 174–179]). At mid-embryonic stages (E9.5–E11.5) Plxdc2-βgeo expression is prominent in a number of patterning centres of the brain, including the cortical hem, midbrain–hindbrain boundary and the midbrain floorplate.
Plxdc2 is expressed in other tissues, most notably the limbs, lung buds and developing heart, as well as the spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia. At E15.5, expression is apparent in a large number of discrete nuclei and structures throughout the brain, including the glial wedge and derivatives of the cortical hem. Plxdc2-βgeo expression is particularly strong in the developing Purkinje cell layer, especially in the posterior half of the cerebellum. The PLAP marker is expressed in a number of axonal tracts, including the posterior commissure, mammillotegmental tract and cerebellar peduncle. We compare Plxdc2-βgeo expression in the embryonic brain with the much more restricted expression of the related gene
Plxdc1 and with members of the Wnt family (
Wnt3a, Wnt5a and
Wnt8b) that show a striking overlap with
Plxdc2 expression in certain areas.