Abstract
The aim of this article is to provide a survey of the experimental findings which relate to the role of nucleic acids in brain development, with no pretence at a complete coverage, but also to present some of the evidence obtained with comparable systems wherever this may by useful to illustrate a concept or a possible mechanism. The metabolic behaviour of nucleic acids is at the core of the theory which attempts to explain development in terms of gene action and of its control (repression and derepression) in strictly ordered patterns in space and time. To provide even a cursory appreciation of the complexities which this mechanism is called upon to explain, we will start with a brief description of the main categories of biological events which occur during the growth of the nervous system. This will be also useful in discussing the limits of this theory, at least in its current formulation, and the possible other factors which may contribute to the molding of growing nerve tissues.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsPreview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Altman, J. in Handbook of Neurochem., vol. 2, p. 137 (Ed. A. Lajtha) Plenum Press (1969).
Eceles, J. C. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. US 66:294 (1970).
Caley, D. W. and Maxwell, D.S. J. Comp. Neurol. 133:17 (1968).
Wechsler, A. and Keller, K. Progr.Brain.Res.26:93 (1967
Mori, S., and Leblond, O.P. J. Comp.Neurol.139:1 (1970).
McIlwain, H. in Biochemistry and the Central Nervous System, 3rd Ed., Churchill (1966).
Schonbach, J. et al. J. Comp. Neurol. 134:21 (1968).
Sperry, R.W. Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.US 50:703 (1963).
Hess, A. Biol. Rev. 32:231 (1957).
Hughes, A.F.W. Aspects of neural ontogeny, Logos Press (1968).
Trinkaus, J.P. Cells into Organs, Prentice Hall (1969).
Saunders, J.W. Science 154:604 (1966).
Lents, R.D., and Lapham, L.W. J.Neurochem.16:379 (1969).
Giuditta, A. et al. Brain Res., in press.
Sandritter, W. et al. Z. Zellforsch. 80:145 (1967).
Mandel, P. et al. in Comparative Neurochemistry (Ed. D. Richter) p.149, Pergamon Press (1964).
Rappoport, D.A. et al. in Handbook of Neurochemistry vol.1, p.101 (Ed. A. Lajtha) Plenum Press (1969)
Dingman, C.W., and Sporn, M.B. J. Biol. Chem 239:3483 (1964).
Kurtz, D.I., and Sinex, P.M. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 145:840 (1967).
Margolis, F.L. J. Neurochem. 26:447 (1969).
Mori, K. J. Neurochem. 27:835 (1970).
Hughes, A. J. embryol. exper. Morphol. 3:305 (1955).
Hughes, A., and Flexner, L.B. J. Anat. 90:386 (1956).
Hyden, H. Acta Physiol. Scand. 6,Suppl.17:1 (1943).
Sensenbrenner, M., and Mandel, P. Z.Zellforsch. 82:65 (1967).
Adams, D.H., and Fox, M.E. Brain Res. 21:157 (1969).
Dellweg, H. et al. J. Neurochem.15:1109 (1968).
Yamagami, S., and Mori, K. J.Neurochem. 17:721 (1970).
Bernsohn, J., and Norgello, H. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med. 122:22 (1966).
Ringborg, U. Brain Res. 2:296 (1966).
Sharma, S.K., and Singh, U.N. J.Neurochem. 17:305 (1970).
Adams, D.H. Biochem, J. 98:636 (1966).
Brown, D.D., and Gurdon, J.B. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.US 51:669 (1964).
Vesco, C., and Giuditta, A. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 112:385 (1967).
Caldarera, C.M. et al. J. Neurochem. 16:309 (1969).
Johnson, T.C. J. Neurochem. 14:1075 (1967).
Orrego, F. J. Neurochem. 14:851 (1967).
Guroff, G. et al. J. Neurochem. 15:489 (1968).
Barondes, S.H. J. Neurochem. 11:663 (1964).
Bondy, S.C., and Waelsch, H. Life Sci. 3:633 (1964).
Moscona, A.A., and Kirk, D.L. Science 148:519 (1965).
Brachet, J. in Comprehensive Biochemistry vol.28, p.23 Eds. M. Florkin and E.H. Stotz) Elsevier Publ.Co.(1967).
Kirk, D.L. Proc. Natl. Acad.Sci.54:1345 (1965).
Piddington, R. Devel. Biol. 16:168 (1967).
Krawiec, L. et al. Brain Res. 15:209 (1969).
Smith, E.L. et al. Physiol.Rev. 50:159 (1970).
Ursprung, H., and Huang, R.C. Progr. Biophys. Mol. Biol. 17:151 (1967).
Britten, R.J., and Davidson, E.H. Science 165:349 (1969).
Scarano, E. Ann. Embryol. Morphog.,Suppl. 1:51 (1969).
Gurdon, J.B., and Woodland, H.R. Biol.Rev. 43:233 (1968).
Davidson, E.H. et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.US 54:696 (1965).
Crippa, M. Nature in press.
Tocchini-Valentini, G.P., and Crippa, M. Cold Spring Harbor Symp. Quant. Biol. 35 (1970) in press.
Burgess, R.R. et al. Nature 221:43 (1969).
Seeds, N.W. et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. US 65:160 (1970).
Levi-Montalcini, R., and Angeletti, P. Phsyiol. Rev. 48:534 (1968).
Levi-Montalcini, R. et al. Brain Res. 12:54 (1969).
Toschi, G. et al. J. Neurochem. 13:539 (1966).
Riesen, A.H. in Prog. in Physiological Psychology p.117 Academic Press (1966).
Gyllenstein, L. et al. J.Comp.Neurol.126:463 (1966).
White, R.H. J. Exp. Zool. 166:405 (1967).
Hubel, D.H. Physiologist 10:17 (1967).
Margolis, F.L., and Bondy, S.C. Exp.Neurol.27:353 (1970).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1971 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Giuditta, A. (1971). Role of Nucleic Acids in Brain Development. In: Paoletti, R., Davison, A.N. (eds) Chemistry and Brain Development. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 13. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-7236-3_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-7236-3_2
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-7238-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-7236-3
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive