Objective Understanding the mechanism whereby early neural induction signals activate evolutionarily conserved gene networks to generate the basic pattern of the animal central nervous system ( CNS) is a central unsolved problem in Developmental Neurobiology. The intention for this project is to co-ordinate the complementary expertises of five specialist partners who have already made outstanding contributions to this field to elucidate different but inter-connecting aspects of neural patterning. We investigate how: - The neural activation and transformation signals generate an antero-posterior pattern of differentiation in the early neural plate. - The Otx and Emx gene families respond to these signals and mediate patterning of the forebrain. - Hox genes and other regulatory gene families respond to these signals to mediate segmental patterning in the hindbrain. - The irx gene family modulates the antero-posterior pattern of the CNS. - Hox genes regulate the functional architecture of the CNS by specifying motoneuron identities. Each of these collaborative investigations involve extensive input from two or more partners, and the investigations themselves are strongly interconnected. We will exploit and compare at least two different vertebrate systems (mouse and Xenopus), to enable elucidation of universal principles. The question at issue has always been considered to be of paramount importance, but it is only now that experimental tools and theoretical concepts begin to be available to initiate this effort, and it is easy to predict an imminent explosion in this field. Europe has, so far, shown the way in this area of Developmental Neurobiology and we think that it is now essential to integrate our efforts in a concerted collaborative effort at the community level in order to exploit and build on past successes. Fields of science natural sciencesbiological sciencesneurobiology Programme(s) FP4-BIOTECH 2 - Specific research, technological development and demonstration programme in the field of biotechnology, 1994-1998 Topic(s) 0401 - Development of the nervous system Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator NETHERLANDS INSTITUTE FOR DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY Address 8,uppsalalaan 8 3584 CT Utrecht Netherlands See on map EU contribution No data Participants (4) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all Fondazione Centro San Raffaele del Monte Tabor - Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Italy EU contribution € 0,00 Address 58,via olgettina 58 20132 Milano See on map Other funding No data INSTITUT PASTEUR France EU contribution € 0,00 Address 25,rue du docteur roux 28 75724 Paris See on map Other funding No data MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN E.V. Germany EU contribution € 0,00 Address 11,am fassberg 11 37077 Göttingen - nikolausberg See on map Other funding No data MRC National Institute for Medical Research United Kingdom EU contribution € 0,00 Address The ridgeway mill hill NW7 1AA London See on map Other funding No data
