Elsevier

Mechanisms of Development

Volume 89, Issues 1–2, 1 December 1999, Pages 115-124
Mechanisms of Development

Defective neural tube morphogenesis and altered apoptosis in the absence of both JNK1 and JNK2

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0925-4773(99)00213-0Get rights and content
Under an Elsevier user license
open archive

Abstract

Mice lacking both c-Jun-NH2-terminal kinases (JNK1 and JNK2) were generated to define their roles in development. Jnk1/jnk2 double mutant fetuses die around embryonic day 11 (E11) and were found to display an open neural tube (exencephaly) at the hindbrain level with reduced apoptosis in the hindbrain neuroepithelium at E9.25. In contrast, a dramatic increase in cell death was observed one day later at E10.5 in both the hindbrain and forebrain regions. Moreover, about 25% of jnk1−/−jnk2+/− fetuses display exencephaly probably due to reduced levels of JNK proteins, whereas jnk1+/−jnk2−/− mice are viable. These results assign both pro- and anti-apoptotic functions for JNK1 and JNK2 in the development of the fetal brain.

Keywords

c-Jun-NH2-terminal kinase
JNK1
JNK2
Neural tube
Neural tube closure
Exencephaly
Apoptosis

Cited by (0)

1

Equally contributing authors.