High impact information on Npas3

• Herein we demonstrate that Npas3-/- mice are deficient in expression of hippocampal FGF receptor subtype 1 mRNA, most notably in the dentate gyrus [1].
• In vivo BrdUrd-labeling shows that basal neural precursor cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus of Npas3-/- mice is reduced by 84% relative to wild-type littermates [1].
• The neuronal PAS domain protein 3 (NPAS3) gene encoding a brain-enriched transcription factor was recently found to be disrupted in a family suffering from schizophrenia [1].
• Npas3-/- mice were growth-retarded and exhibited developmental brain abnormalities that included a reduction in size of the anterior hippocampus, hypoplasia of the corpus callosum and enlargement of the ventricles [2].
• Npas3 shares 50.2% amino acid sequence identity with Npas1 and a lesser similarity with other members of the bHLH-PAS domain family of transcription factors [3].

Biological context of Npas3

• Northern blot analysis detected Npas3 mRNA between 11.5 and 17.5 d.p.c. in embryonic development and exclusively in the adult brain [3].

Anatomical context of Npas3

• In addition, Npas3 mRNA was expressed throughout the neuroepithelium of the developing central nervous system between 10 [3].
• At 12.5 d.p.c., Npas3 mRNA was evident in nonneural tissues such as the developing dermis and mesenchyme surrounding the otic and nasal placodes [3].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of Npas3

• Whole-mount and section in situ hybridization assays revealed expression of Npas3 between 9.5 and 11.5 d.p.c. in the developing neural tube [3].

References