The Slit receptor Robo1 is predominantly expressed via the Dutt1 alternative promoter in pioneer neurons in the embryonic mouse brain and spinal cord

Robo1 is a member of the Roundabout (Robo) family of receptors for the Slit axon guidance cues. In mice (and humans), the Robo1 locus has alternative promoters producing two transcript isoforms, Robo1 and Dutt1. These isoforms have unique 5′ termini, predicted to encode distinct N-terminal amino acids, but share the rest of their 3′ exons. To determine the spatial expression of the Robo1 and Dutt1 isoforms, we generated isoform-specific RNA probes, and carried out in situ hybridization on E10.5 mouse embryos, the stage in early neuron differentiation when many major axon pathways are established. The two isoforms had distinct expression patterns that partially overlapped. Dutt1 was the predominant isoform, with widespread expression in regions of post-mitotic neurons and neuroepithelial cells. The Robo1 isoform had a distinct expression pattern restricted to subsets of neurons, many of which were Dutt1-negative. Dutt1 was the main isoform expressed in spinal cord commissural neurons. For both probes, the main hybridization signal was limited to two spots in the nuclei of individual cells. This study shows distinct expression patterns for the Dutt1 and Robo1 alternative promoters in the embryonic nervous system.