Expression Pattern Analysis Of Transcription Factor Erf In DRG And Construction Of Targeting Vectors For Erf Conditional Knock-out

The nociceptive neurons, or nociceptors, in peripheral nervous system sense different types of noxious stimuli, which is essential to cause avoidance of further damages. The generation and developmental regulation of nociceptors, including peptidergic and non-peptidergic nociceptors, have been intensely investigated. It has been shown that the transcription factor Runx1 plays a pivotal role in the development of non-peptidergic neurons. However, the mechanism underlying the generation of peptidergic nociceptors is so far unclear. In this project, from an expression profiling microarray data of Runx1 cKO DRG, a transcription factor Erf are screened out as a candidate that potentially regulates the expression of CGRP(a marker for peptidergic neurons). Analysis of Erf expression pattern in dorsal root ganglia reveals its major co-expression with CGRP, implying a potential role of Erf in the generation of peptidergic nociceptors. In addition, the targeting plasmids for generating Erf conditional knock-out mice are constructed, which could be used to analyze, in vivo, the role of Erf in the development of nociceptors.