What are radial glia?

During neurogenesis, neuroepithelial (NE) cells transform into radial glia. Epithelial features, such as tight junctions, are downregulated in favor of adherens junctions. Glial hallmarks, including astrocyte markers and morphological features such as glycogen granules, begin to emerge.

Vimentin

Gene name VIM
Vimentin is an intermediate filament protein, whose expression is upregulated during the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition of NE cells to radial glia and persists until astrocyte development.

We recommend

Vimentin antibodies
Anti-Vimentin antibody [EPR3776] - Cytoskeleton Marker (ab92547)
Vimentin inhibitor and antiangiogenic agent: Withaferin A (ab120644)

References

View 4 references for Vimentin

PAX6

Alternative names
Paired Box 6, aniridia type II protein (AN2), oculorhombin
Gene name PAX6

Paired box gene 6 or paired box protein (PAX6) is a transcription factor that promotes neurogenesis.

We recommend

PAX6 antibodies
Anti-PAX6 antibody (ab5790)

References

View 4 references for PAX6

HES1 and HES5

Alternative names
Hairy and enhancer of split-1 and hairy and enhancer of split-5
Gene name HES1 and HES5

These are transcription factors regulating the maintenance of radial glia.

We recommend

HES1 antibodies
HES5 antibodies
Anti-HES5 antibody (ab25374)

References

View 1 reference for HES1 and HES5

Astrocytic markers: GFAP, GLAST, and BLBP

These astrocytic markers emerge as neuroepithelial cells become radial glia.

We recommend

GFAP antibodies
EAAT1 antibodies
BLBP antibodies
Anti-BLBP antibody (ab32423)

References

View 3 references for Astrocytic markers: GFAP, GLAST, and BLBP

Adhesion and extracellular matrix molecules: TN-C and N-cadherin

Upregulation of adhesion and extracellular matrix proteins accompanies the transformation of NE cells into radial glia.

We recommend

N-cadherin antibodies
TN-C antibodies
Recombinant Anti-N Cadherin antibody [EPR1791-4] (ab76011)

References

View 3 references for Adhesion and extracellular matrix molecules: TN-C and N-cadherin

Nestin

Gene name NES

Nestin is an intermediate filament protein in NE cells and radial glia, whose expression persists until astrocyte development.

We recommend

Nestin antibodies
Anti-Nestin antibody [Rat-401] - Neural Stem Cell Marker (ab6142)

References

View 4 references for Nestin

SOX2

Alternative names
ANOP3, MCOPS3, SRY-box 2, Sox2, SRY-box transcription factor 2
Gene name SOX2

SOX2 is a transcription factor and the earliest marker of the neural plate. It is expressed in proliferating cells and those acquiring glial fates but downregulated in post-mitotic neurons.

We recommend

SOX2 antibodies
Anti-SOX2 antibody (ab97959)

References

View 2 references for SOX2

References

Vimentin

Bargagna-Mohan P,, Hamza A,, Kim YE,, et al. The tumor inhibitor and antiangiogenic agent withaferin A targets the intermediate filament protein vimentin Chem Biol 14 (6),623-34 (2007)

Lamouille S,, Xu J,, Derynck R. Molecular mechanisms of epithelial-mesenchymal transition Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 15 (3),178-96 (2014)

Graeber, M. B.,, Streit, W. J.,, Kreutzberg, G. W. The microglial cytoskeleton: vimentin is localised within activated cells in situ. J. Neurocytol. 17 ,573-580 (1988)

Wohl, S. G.,, Schmeer, C. W.,, et al. In situ dividing and phagocytosing retinal microglia express nestin, vimentin, and NG2 in vivo. PLoS ONE. 6 , (2011)

PAX6

Heins N,, Malatesta P,, Cecconi F,, et al. Glial cells generate neurons: the role of the transcription factor Pax6 Nat Neurosci 5 (4),308-15 (2002)

Kriegstein, A. R.,, Götz, M. Radial glia diversity: A matter of cell fate Glia ,37-43 (2003)

Kriegstein A,, Alvarez-Buylla A. The glial nature of embryonic and adult neural stem cells Annu Rev Neurosci 32 ,149-84 (2009)

Kriegstein AR,, Götz M. Radial glia diversity: a matter of cell fate. Glia 43 (1),37-43 (2003)

HES1 and HES5

Kageyama R,, Ohtsuka T,, Kobayashi T. Roles of Hes genes in neural development. D ev Growth Differ. 50 (S1),S97-S103 (2008)

Astrocytic markers: GFAP, GLAST, and BLBP

Kriegstein, A. R.,, Götz, M. Radial glia diversity: A matter of cell fate Glia ,37-43 (2003)

Kriegstein AR,, Götz M. Radial glia diversity: a matter of cell fate. Glia 43 (1),37-43 (2003)

Kriegstein A,, Alvarez-Buylla A. The glial nature of embryonic and adult neural stem cells Annu Rev Neurosci 32 ,149-84 (2009)

Adhesion and extracellular matrix molecules: TN-C and N-cadherin

Kriegstein, A. R.,, Götz, M. Radial glia diversity: A matter of cell fate Glia ,37-43 (2003)

Kriegstein AR,, Götz M. Radial glia diversity: a matter of cell fate. Glia 43 (1),37-43 (2003)

Kriegstein A,, Alvarez-Buylla A. The glial nature of embryonic and adult neural stem cells Annu Rev Neurosci 32 ,149-84 (2009)

Nestin

Jessen KR,, Mirsky R. The origin and development of glial cells in peripheral nerves. Nat Rev Neurosci. 6 (9),671-82 (2005)

Kriegstein AR,, Götz M. Radial glia diversity: a matter of cell fate. Glia 43 (1),37-43 (2003)

Kriegstein, A. R.,, Götz, M. Radial glia diversity: A matter of cell fate Glia ,37-43 (2003)

Kriegstein A,, Alvarez-Buylla A. The glial nature of embryonic and adult neural stem cells A nnu Rev Neurosci 32 ,149-84 (2009)

SOX2

Bylund M,, Andersson E,, Novitch BG,, et al. Vertebrate neurogenesis is counteracted by Sox1-3 activity Nat Neurosci 6 (11),1162-8 (2003)

Papanayotou C,, Mey A,, Birot AM,, et al. A mechanism regulating the onset of Sox2 expression in the embryonic neural plate. PLoS Biol 6 (1), (2008)