Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026
12:17
Initiating Differentiation in Immortalized Multipotent Otic Progenitor Cells
Published on: January 2, 2016
Role of Sox2 in the development of the mouse neocortex
Mahmud Bani-Yaghoub1, Roger G Tremblay, Joy X Lei
1Neurogenesis and Brain Repair Group, Neurobiology Program, Institute for Biological Sciences, National Research Council of Canada, 1200 Montreal Rd., Bldg. M-54, Ottawa, ON, Canada K1A 0R6. mahmud.bani@nrc.ca
Developmental Biology
|April 25, 2006
Summary
Sox2 is crucial for mammalian neocortex development, regulating neural stem and progenitor cells. It maintains cell proliferation and influences neurogenesis and gliogenesis by acting upstream of the Notch pathway.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Stem Cell Biology
Background:
- The mammalian neocortex arises from neural stem and progenitor cells.
- Transcriptional and environmental factors guide neuron and astrocyte formation.
- Sox2 is a key transcription factor in neural development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanism of Sox2 action in neocortical neurogenesis and gliogenesis.
- To understand how Sox2 regulates neural stem and progenitor cell fate.
Main Methods:
- Studied Sox2 expression in neural stem and progenitor cells.
- Overexpressed Sox2 in neural progenitors to observe effects on gene expression and differentiation.
- Investigated the role of the Notch pathway and serine proteases in Sox2 regulation.
Main Results:
- Sox2 is robustly expressed in ventricular zone progenitors until cell cycle exit.
- Sox2 overexpression upregulates Notch1, RBP-J, and Hes5, promoting astroglial differentiation and inhibiting neurogenesis.
- Neuronal precursors degrade excess Sox2, while glial cells maintain expression, reactivating it upon proliferation signals.
Conclusions:
- Sox2 acts upstream of the Notch signaling pathway.
- Sox2 maintains proliferative potential and ensures adequate cell numbers and phenotypes during neocortical development.
