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Published on: June 30, 2021
Molecular development of corticospinal motor neuron circuitry
Bradley J Molyneaux1, Paola Arlotta, Jeffrey D Macklis
1MGH-HMS Center for Nervous System Repair, Departments of Neurosurgery and Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Novartis Foundation Symposium
|May 23, 2008
Summary
Researchers identified key genes controlling the development of corticospinal motor neurons (CSMN). Understanding these molecular controls is crucial for brain circuitry repair and function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Brain organization and function rely on diverse neuronal subtypes.
- Repairing complex neural circuitry requires understanding molecular controls of neuronal development.
Purpose of the Study:
- Identify molecular controls for specific neuronal lineages, particularly corticospinal motor neurons (CSMN).
- Elucidate transcriptional programs governing CSMN development in vivo.
- Discover novel genes instructive for CSMN differentiation and connectivity.
Main Methods:
- Purification of CSMN at distinct developmental stages in vivo.
- Comparative gene expression analysis of CSMN and other neocortical projection neurons.
- Loss-of-function and gain-of-function analyses of identified genes.
Main Results:
- Identified novel genes, including Fezf2 and Ctip2, critical for CSMN development.
- Fezf2 regulates subcerebral projection neuron identity.
- Ctip2 controls axonal projection pathfinding of CSMN to the spinal cord.
Conclusions:
- Revealed combinatorial molecular controls governing neocortical and forebrain projection neuron development.
- Findings provide insights into brain organization and function.
- Potential for manipulating these pathways for functional cellular repair of brain circuitry.
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