Table 1.
Transcription factors known to maintain neuronal identity
| Species | Transcription factor name (type) | Neuron type that requires sustained TF expression to maintain its identity | Approach | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C.elegans | che–1 (Zn finger) | ASEL/R gustatory neuron class | postdevelopmental RNAi | 17 |
| die–1 (Zn finger) | ASEL subtype identity | postdevelopmental RNAi | 21 | |
| MYST histone acetyltransferase | ASEL subtype identity | temperature–sensitive allele | 21 | |
| unc–3 (EBF) | Ventral nerve cord motor neurons | pulsing gene activity in a mutant background 1 | 12 | |
| ast–1 (ETS) | Dopaminergic neurons | pulsing gene activity in a mutant background 1 | 19 | |
| ceh–43 (Dlx–type homeobox) | Dopaminergic neurons | hypomorphic allele leads to initial generation, but then loss of identity | 16 | |
| mec–3 (LIM homeobox) | Touch sensory neurons | pulsing gene activity in a mutant background | 18 | |
| unc–42 (Prd–type homeobox) | ASH nociceptive neuron | postdevelopmental RNAi | 18 | |
| D. melanogaster | Eya, Ap, Dimm, Dac | Tv1/Tv4 neurons | Temporally controlled–RNAi 2 | 24 |
| Acj6, E93, Fer1, Onecut, Aim, Xbp1, Zf30c | Olfactory neurons | Temporally controlled–RNAi 2 | 22 | |
| ewg | Photoreceptors | Adult ewg rescue | 23 | |
| S. mediterranea | Pitx (paired–type homeobox) | 5HT neurons | RNAi | 45 |
| M. musculus | Hand2 (bHLH) | Sympathetic neurons | DBH–Cre | 28 |
| Gata–3 (Zn–GATA) | Sympathetic neurons 5HT neurons |
DBH–CreER ePet–Cre |
56 40 |
|
| Pet–1/FEV (ETS) | 5HT neurons |
ePet–Cre ePet–CreER |
61 | |
| Lmx1b (LIM homeobox) | 5HT neurons |
ePet–Cre Pet1–CreER |
29, 30 | |
| Gata–3 (Zn–GATA) | 5HT neurons | ePet–Cre | 40 | |
| Engrailed 1/2 | 5HT neurons Dopaminergic neurons |
ePet–Cre null alleles |
70 66, 67 |
|
| Nurr1 (NHR) | Dopaminergic neurons |
DAT–Cre AAV–Cre DAT–CreER |
26, 27 | |
| Foxa1/foxa2 (forkhead/winged helix | Dopaminergic neurons | DAT-Cre | 41 | |
| Pax–6 (paired–type homeobox) | Dopaminergic neurons (Olfactory bulb) | DAT–Cre | 55 | |
| COUP–TF1 (NHR) | Olfactory bulb DA neurons | Lenti–Cre | 72 | |
| Islet1 (LIM homeobox) | Dorsal root ganglia sensory neurons | Isl1–CreER | 43 | |
| Nkx2.1 (homeobox) | Forebrain cholinergic neurons | Chat–Cre | 44 | |
| Lhx7 (LIM homeobox) | Striatal interneurons | Chat–Cre | 42 | |
| Phox2 (homeobox) | MNs. Sympathetic and Locus coeruleus Norepin. neurons |
Isl1–Cre βactinCreER |
25 | |
| RORα (NHR) | Purkinje cells |
Pcp2–Cre Lenti–Cre |
58 | |
| Otx2 (homeobox) | Photoreceptors |
CreER Lenti–Cre |
61, 62 | |
| Nrl (bZIP) | Rod photoreceptors | CAG–CreER | 64 | |
| Lhx1 (LIM homeobox) | Inferior olivary neuron | Rosa25–CreER | 18 |
1
initial pulse to successfully rescue mutant phenotype in early stage, then let gene activity peter out, then scored for loss of identity.
2
TARGET system.
NHR, nuclear hormone receptor