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Differentiation of a Human Neural Stem Cell Line on Three Dimensional Cultures, Analysis of MicroRNA and Putative Target Genes
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Published on: April 12, 2015

SOX5 controls cell cycle progression in neural progenitors by interfering with the WNT-beta-catenin pathway

Patricia L Martinez-Morales1, Alejandra C Quiroga, Julio A Barbas

  • 1Instituto Cajal, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Doctor Arce 37, 28002 Madrid, Spain.

EMBO Reports
|May 8, 2010
PubMed

Insights

SOX5 is a crucial gene for nervous system development. It controls neural progenitor cell cycle exit and differentiation by regulating WNT-beta-catenin signaling.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental biology
  • Neuroscience
  • Molecular biology

Background:

  • SOX family genes are vital for nervous system development.
  • SOX5's role in neural progenitor regulation was previously unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the function of SOX5 in chick spinal cord neural progenitor development.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which SOX5 controls cell cycle exit and differentiation.

Main Methods:

  • Gene expression analysis in chick spinal cord.
  • Overexpression and knockdown of SOX5 in neural progenitors.
  • Analysis of WNT-beta-catenin signaling pathway components.

Main Results:

  • SOX5 is expressed in neural progenitors and downregulated during differentiation.
  • SOX5 overexpression leads to premature cell cycle exit and blocked differentiation.
  • SOX5 knockdown prolongs progenitor proliferation and causes dI3 interneuron cell death.
  • SOX5 inhibits WNT-beta-catenin signaling by upregulating axin2.

Conclusions:

  • SOX5 acts as a key regulator of neural progenitor cell cycle exit timing.
  • SOX5 opposes WNT-beta-catenin signaling to control cell cycle progression and differentiation.
  • SOX5 is essential for proper interneuron development and survival.

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