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UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO Regulation of Target Gene Expression in Sensory Neurons by Brn3a A Dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences by Jason James Lanier Committee in charge: Professor Eric Turner, Chair Professor Jerold Chun Professor Joseph Gleeson Professor William McGinnis Professor Bing Ren 2007 Copyright Jason James Lanier, 2007 All rights reserved The Dissertation of Jason James Lanier is approved, and it is acceptable in quality and form for publication on microfilm. _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ Chair UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO 2007 iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Signature page ........................................................................................ iii Table of contents ..................................................................................... iv List of Figures ......................................................................................... vi List of Tables .......................................................................................... viii Acknowledgements ................................................................................. ix Vita ......................................................................................................... x Abstract ................................................................................................... xii I. Introduction ............................................................................................. 1 Induction and development of the nervous system...................................................................................... 1 Tissue-specific transcription factors in neural development ............................................................. 3 Mechanisms of transcriptional regulation .............................. 5 Transcription factor target gene specificity ............................ 7 Epigenetic influence on transcription factor binding .................................................................................... 10 Brn3a is a critical regulator of sensory neural development ............................................................................ 13 References ............................................................................... 17 II. Coordinated regulation of gene expression by Brn3a in the developing trigeminal ganglion .............................................................. 23 Abstract ................................................................................... 23 Introduction ............................................................................. 24 Materials and methods ............................................................ 27 Results ..................................................................................... 29 Discussion ............................................................................... 39 Figures..................................................................................... 49 Tables ...................................................................................... 57 References ............................................................................... 62 Acknowledgements ................................................................. 66 iv III. Brn3a target gene recognition in embryonic sensory neurons ................ 67 Abstract ................................................................................... 67 Introduction ............................................................................. 68 Materials and methods ........................................................... 72 Results ..................................................................................... 80 Discussion ............................................................................... 92 Figures..................................................................................... 100 References ............................................................................... 113 Acknowledgements ................................................................. 118 IV. POU-domain factor Brn3a regulates both distinct and common programs of gene expression in the spinal and trigeminal sensory ganglia ...................................................................... 119 Abstract ................................................................................... 119 Background ............................................................................. 121 Results ..................................................................................... 124 Discussion ............................................................................... 133 Materials and methods ........................................................... 138 Figures .................................................................................... 145 Tables ...................................................................................... 155 References ............................................................................... 161 Acknowledgements ................................................................. 165 V. Conclusions ............................................................................................ 166 Programs of gene regulation in the nervous system. .............. 166 Direct vs indirect regulation.................................................... 167 Context-dependent binding and activity of transcription factors. ............................................................... 169 Cell-specific functions of transcription factors. ...................... 172 References ............................................................................... 175 v LIST OF FIGURES Chapter 2 Figure 2.1 Expression array analysis of E13.5 trigeminal ganglia. .................................................................................... 50 Figure 2.2 Brn3a regulates sensory neurotransmitter systems. ................................................................................... 52 Figure 2.3 Coordinated regulation of transcription factor expression in sensory ganglia by Brn3a. ................................ 54 Figure 2.4 Cellular expression of Brn3a target genes in the CNS. ........................................................................................ 56 Chapter 3 Figure 3.1 Cellular expression of Brn3a in the embryonic trigeminal ganglion. ................................................................ 100 Figure 3.2. Brn3a is a direct regulator of the NeuroD4 gene in the embryonic trigeminal ganglion. .................................... 102 Figure 3.3 ChIP analysis of Brn3a binding to the NeuroD1 and Msc loci in E13.5 trigeminal ganglia. .............................. 104 Figure 3.4 Brn3a binding to the Pou4f1 locus in vitro and in embryonic trigeminal ganglia. ............................................ 106 Figure 3.5 Markers of chromatin modification at the Pou4f1 locus. .......................................................................... 108 Figure 3.6 Acetylated histone H3 ChIP assays of the NeuroD4 and NeuroD1 loci. ................................................... 110 Figure 3.7 Analysis of Brn3a binding sites identified in the promoters of genes not expressed in the developing trigeminal ganglion. ............................................. 112 vi Chapter 4 Figure 4.1 Analysis of global gene expression in embryonic neural tissue. ......................................................... 145 Figure 4.2 Selective expression of proprioceptor markers in the DRG and trigeminal system. ......................................... 147 Figure 4.3 Target genes with increased expression in the DRG of Brn3a null mice. ........................................................ 148 Figure 4.4 Target genes with decreased expression in the DRG of Brn3a null mice. ........................................................ 150 Figure 4.5 Brn3a regulation of Hox gene expression in the DRG. ................................................................................. 151 Figure 4.6 Trigeminal-specific targets of Brn3a regulation. .................... 152 Figure 4.7 Acetyl-histone H3 profiling of Brn3a target gene loci. ................................................................................. 154 vii LIST OF TABLES Chapter 2 Table 2.1 Increased transcripts in the trigeminal ganglion of Brn3a mutant mouse embryos. ........................................... 57 Table 2.2 Decreased transcripts in the trigeminal ganglion of Brn3a mutant mouse embryos. ........................................... 58 Table 2.3 Significantly changed ESTs in Brn3a mutant mice. ............... 59 Table 2.4 Relative expression of previously reported Brn3a target genes in the trigeminal ganglia of Brn3a mutant embryos. ...................................................................... 61 Chapter 4 Table 4.1 Transcripts differentially expressed in the DRG and TG. ................................................................................... 155 Table 4.2 Increased transcripts in the DRG of Brn3a knockout mice. ........................................................................ 157 Table 4.3 Transcripts decreased in the DRG of Brn3a