Lbx1 Acts as a Selector Gene in the Fate Determination of Somatosensory and Viscerosensory Relay Neurons in the Hindbrain

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Abstract
Distinct types of relay neurons in the hindbrain process somatosensory or viscerosensory information. How neurons choose between these two fates is unclear. We show here that the homeobox geneLbx1is essential for imposing a somatosensory fate on relay neurons in the hindbrain. InLbx1mutant mice, viscerosensory relay neurons are specified at the expense of somatosensory relay neurons. Thus Lbx1 expression distinguishes between the somatosensory or viscerosensory fate of relay neurons.