Transcriptional control of neuronal migration in the developing mouse brain

The molecular mechanisms controlling neuronal migration have many similarities with those described for axon guidance. For instance, migrating neurons and growing axons are instructed toward their final destination by the same guidance molecules and are able to adapt their response to those cues by modulating the expression of guidance receptors. Transcriptional regulation is thought to be a key determinant in this later process, although we are just beginning to identify the contribution of these mechanisms in neuronal migration. In this review, we will describe recent progress made in understanding the contribution of transcription factors in controlling neuronal migration in the developing mouse brain, with a special focus on the developing telencephalon.