Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2001, 193 (3)

Review

The Role of Pax6 in Brain Patterning

NORIKO OSUMI

Department of Developmental Neurobiology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8575

Pax6 gene encodes a transcription factor that plays a pivotal role in various aspects of brain development. Here I review the molecular and cellular mechanisms of how the early brain is patterned, and introduce recent studies on the role of Pax6 in brain patterning, neuronal specification, neuronal migration and axonal extension.

Keywords —— brain development; patterning; Pax6; small eye; cadherin

© 2001 Tohoku University Medical Press

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Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2001, 193, 163-174

Address for reprints: Noriko Osumi, Department of Developmental Neurobiology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryomachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan.

This review is based on Millenium Lecture at 73th Annual Meeting for the Japanese Biochemical Society on October 13, 2000 in Yokohama.