Across phylogeny, motor neurons (MNs) represent a single but often remarkably diverse neuronal class composed of a multitude of subtypes required for vital behaviors, such as eating and locomotion. Over the past decades, seminal studies in multiple model organisms have advanced our molecular understanding of the early steps of MN development, such as progenitor specification and acquisition of MN subtype identity, by revealing key roles for several evolutionarily conserved transcription factors. However, very little is known about the molecular strategies that allow distinct MN subtypes to maintain their identity- and function-defining features during the late steps of development and postnatal life. Here, we provide an overview of invertebrate and vertebrate studies on transcription factor-based strategies that control early and late steps of MN development, aiming to highlight evolutionarily conserved gene regulatory principles necessary for establishment and maintenance of neuronal identity.

中文翻译：

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脊椎动物和无脊椎动物运动神经元发育的转录机制。

在整个系统发育中，运动神经元 (MNs) 代表一个单一但通常非常多样化的神经元类别，由重要行为（例如进食和运动）所需的多种亚型组成。在过去的几十年中，对多种模式生物的开创性研究通过揭示几种进化上保守的转录因子的关键作用，促进了我们对 MN 发育早期步骤的分子理解，例如祖细胞特化和 MN 亚型身份的获得。然而，对于允许不同的 MN 亚型在发育和出生后生活的后期阶段保持其身份和功能定义特征的分子策略知之甚少。这里，