Gamma and alpha motor neurons distinguished by expression of transcription factor Err3
Open accessAbstract
Spinal motor neurons are specified to innervate different muscle targets through combinatorial programs of transcription factor expression. Whether transcriptional programs also establish finer aspects of motor neuron subtype identity, notably the prominent functional distinction between alpha and gamma motor neurons, remains unclear. In this study, we identify DNA binding proteins with complementary expression profiles in alpha and gamma motor neurons, providing evidence for molecular distinctions in these two motor neuron subtypes. The transcription factor Err3 is expressed at high levels in gamma but not alpha motor neurons, whereas the neuronal DNA binding protein NeuN marks alpha but not gamma motor neurons. Signals from muscle spindles are needed to support the differentiation of Err3 on /NeuN off presumptive gamma motor neurons, whereas direct proprioceptive sensory input to a motor neuron pool is apparently dispensable. Together, these findings provide evidence that transcriptional programs define functionally distinct motor neuron subpopulations, even within anatomically defined motor pools.
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The motoneuron family includes alpha motoneurons (MNa) with relatively higher levels of Poln and Spp134, gamma motoneurons (MNg) with relatively higher levels of Esrrg and Htr1f, and preganglionic cells (PGC) expressing Gfra3, Nos1, and Fbn2.
“The motoneuron (MN) family includes alpha motoneurons (MNa) which had relatively higher levels of Poln and Spp134, gamma motoneurons (MNg) which had relatively higher levels of Esrrg and Htr1f35, and the related preganglionic cells (PGC) which expressed Gfra3, Nos1, and Fbn236,37.”
From A harmonized atlas of mouse spinal cord cell types and their spatial organization (2021) · cites this paper as [35]
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- Authors
- Friese, A., Kaltschmidt, J. A., Ladle, D. R., Sigrist, M., Jessell, T. M., & Arber, S.
- Affiliations
- University of Basel (CH)
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute (US)
- Corresponding author
- Arber, Silvia
- Venue
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Publisher
- National Academy of Sciences
- Published
- 2009-08-11
- Volume
- 106
- Issue
- 32
- Pages
- 13588-13593
- ISSN
- 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
- 1091-6490
- PMC
- PMC2716387
- OpenAlex
- W2163617647
- Cited by
- 235
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 3.90
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- CORE Scholar (Wright State University) (submittedVersion)
- edoc (University of Basel) (submittedVersion)
- Journal of Bioresource Management (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Science Foundation
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute
- Wellcome Trust (IPTRF 064871, 064871)
- European Commission
- Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Axon Guidance and Neuronal Signaling
- Keywords
- gamma motor neurons, alpha motoneurons, NeuN, spinal motoneurons, muscle spindles, proprioception, transcriptional programs, motor pools, DNA-binding proteins
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Motor Neurons, Neuraminidase, Muscle Spindles, Neurons, Afferent, Phenotype, Proprioception, Receptors, Estrogen, Transcription Factors, Biomarkers, Mice
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