High impact information on Hes3

• Here, we found that, in mice doubly mutant for the basic helix-loop-helix genes Hes1 and Hes3, the midbrain and anterior hindbrain structures are missing without any significant cell death [1].
• Both types of Hes3 proteins functionally antagonize the neuronal determination factor Mash1, but only Hes3b represses transcription from the N box-containing promoter like Hes1 [2].
• Generation of structurally and functionally distinct factors from the basic helix-loop-helix gene Hes3 by alternative first exons [2].
• The basic helix-loop-helix gene Hes3 is expressed by differentiating and mature Purkinje cells in the cerebellum and by neural precursor cells in the embryonal nervous system [2].
• Expression of the helix-loop-helix factor, Hes3, during embryo development suggests a role in early midbrain-hindbrain patterning [3].

Biological context of Hes3

• Here, we report the nucleotide sequence and chromosomal locus of the mouse Hes-3 gene [4].
• Southern blot and interspecies backcross analyses show that the mouse Hes-3 gene is a single-copy gene and is located around position 80 on chromosome 4 [4].

Anatomical context of Hes3

• Hes3, on the other hand, shows a restricted expression in cerebellar Purkinje cells [5].
• Hes1 and Hes3 regulate maintenance of the isthmic organizer and development of the mid/hindbrain [1].
• During early development of the central nervous system, Hes3 is expressed specifically in the region of the midbrain/hindbrain boundary, and in rhombomeres 2, 4, 6 and 7 [3].
• Later in development, Hes3 is co-expressed with other neurogenic gene homologues in the developing central nervous system and epithelial cells undergoing mesenchyme induction [3].

Other interactions of Hes3

• We have examined the embryonic and postnatal expression of the Hes1 and Hes3 genes as well as all four murine Grgs in order to determine where spatial and temporal overlaps of Hes and Grg corepressors may occur [6].
• Structure and chromosomal locus of the mouse gene encoding a cerebellar Purkinje cell-specific helix-loop-helix factor Hes-3 [4].

References