Homologs of genes expressed in Caenorhabditis elegans GABAergic neurons are also found in the developing mouse forebrain.

Background: In an effort to identify genes that specify the mammalian forebrain, we used a comparative approach to identify mouse homologs of transcription factors expressed in developing Caenorhabditis elegans GABAergic neurons. A cell-specific microarray profiling study revealed a set of transcription factors that are highly expressed in embryonic C. elegans GABAergic neurons.

Results: Bioinformatic analyses identified mouse protein homologs of these selected transcripts and their expression pattern was mapped in the mouse embryonic forebrain by in situ hybridization. A review of human homologs indicates several of these genes are potential candidates in neurodevelopmental disorders.

Conclusions: Our comparative approach has revealed several novel candidates that may serve as future targets for studies of mammalian forebrain development.