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Live Imaging of Mitosis in the Developing Mouse Embryonic Cortex
Published on: June 4, 2014
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Postmitotic control of sensory area specification during neocortical development
C Alfano1, E Magrinelli1, K Harb1
11] Univ. Nice Sophia Antipolis, iBV, UMR 7277, 06108 Nice, France [2] Inserm, iBV, U1091, 06108 Nice, France [3] CNRS, iBV, UMR 7277, 06108 Nice, France.
Nature Communications
|December 6, 2014
Summary
Postmitotic gene expression gradients, specifically COUP-TFI (Nr2f1), are crucial for determining mammalian neocortex areal identity. This finding reveals plasticity in neural development, impacting complex brain structures.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- The mammalian neocortex exhibits distinct cytoarchitectural areas with specialized functions.
- Areal identity is initially established by gene expression gradients in early progenitors (protomap).
- Later gene expression gradients in intermediate progenitors and postmitotic neurons are also essential for areal specification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if postmitotic gene expression gradients can independently determine neocortical areal identity.
- To elucidate the role of COUP-TFI (Nr2f1) in specifying sensory areal identity.
Main Methods:
- Utilized cell type-restricted genetic loss- and gain-of-function approaches.
- Focused on the expression patterns of COUP-TFI (Nr2f1) in postmitotic neurons.
Main Results:
- High levels of postmitotic COUP-TFI (Nr2f1) expression were found to be both necessary and sufficient for sensory (caudal) areal identity development.
- Demonstrated the critical role of postmitotic patterning genes in neocortical areal specification.
Conclusions:
- Postmitotic gene expression gradients play a vital role in determining neocortical areal identity.
- The mammalian neocortex displays unexpected plasticity in areal specification, potentially explaining its complex and evolutionarily novel structures.
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