Int. J. Dev. Biol. 51: 483 - 493 (2007)
doi: 10.1387/ijdb.072343ga
© UPV/EHU Press
Establishment of a proneural field in the inner ear
Gina Abelló and Berta Alsina*
Developmental Biology, Dept. of Experimental Sciences and Health, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, Barcelona, Spain
ABSTRACT Hair-cells, supporting cells and sensory neurons are the main specialized cell-types responsible for mechanotransduction in the inner ear. They derive from precursors expressing proneural genes and recent data has underlined the importance of SoxB1 genes as upstream activators of proneural genes during cranial placode development. Here we review the steps of establishing a proneural field and propose several models for how early otic regionalization into a proneural territory is achieved.
Keywords:bHLH, proneural gene, notch signaling, FGF signaling, SoxB1, neural induction
*Corresponding author e-mail: berta.alsina@upf.edu