The role of Hoxb1 in NMPs and neural progenitors

We found that, whereas Hoxb1 does not affect NMP specification per se, it promotes NMP survival through the upregulation of Fgf8 and other components of Fgf signaling as well as the repression of components of the apoptotic pathway. Additionally, it upregulates the expression of some, primarily anterior, Hox genes suggesting that it plays an active role in the early steps of AP specification. In hindbrain neural progenitors Hoxb1 synergizes with shh to repress the expression of dorsal markers, regulate the expression of ventral markers and direct the specification of facial branchiomotorneuron (FBM) - like progenitors. Additionally, Hoxb1 and shh synergize in regulating the expression of diverse signals and signaling molecules in neural progenitors, including the Ret tyrosine kinase receptor. Hoxb1 synergizes with GDNF to strengthen Ret expression and further promote the generation of facial branchiomotorneuron (FBM) – like progenitors Overall design: Genome wide expression analysis in two contexts (A) WT and Hoxb1 null NMP cells (B) Neuronal progenitors expressing or not Hoxb1 in the presence or absence of SAG