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Cell Polarization by Rho Proteins01:21

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Cell polarity is the asymmetric distribution of cellular and membrane components, making one side of the cell different from the other. This polarity is essential to many processes such as embryogenesis, axon migration, glucose transport across epithelial cells, and directional cell migration. A migrating cell responds to intracellular or extracellular signals via molecular cascades that reorganize the actin cytoskeleton to establish this polarity. In these cells, the Rho family proteins Cdc42,...
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Neurulation is the embryological process which forms the precursors of the central nervous system and occurs after gastrulation has established the three primary cell layers of the embryo: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. In humans, the majority of this system is formed via primary neurulation, in which the central portion of the ectoderm—originally appearing as a flat sheet of cells—folds upwards and inwards, sealing off to form a hollow neural tube. As development proceeds, the...
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Positioning the cell division plane is a critical step during development and cell differentiation, particularly during mitosis when the plane is essential for determining the size of the two daughter cells. The cell division plane is perpendicular to the plane of chromosome segregation, but different types of organisms have different cell division mechanisms to suit their morphology and function. 
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The intrinsic polarity of cells can be primarily attributed to two factors- i) the asymmetric accumulation of mobile components such are regulatory molecules and subcellular components across the cell and ii) the orientation of polar cytoskeletal filaments that make up the cytoskeletal networks, specifically microfilaments, and microtubules arranged along the axis of polarity. Interactions between the cytoskeletal filaments are crucial for the establishment and maintenance of the polar nature...
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During embryogenesis, cells become progressively committed to different fates through a two-step process: specification followed by determination. Specification is demonstrated by removing a segment of an early embryo, “neutrally” culturing the tissue in vitro—for example, in a petri dish with simple medium—and then observing the derivatives. If the cultured region gives rise to cell types that it would normally generate in the embryo, this means that it is specified. In...
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Live Imaging of Primary Cerebral Cortex Cells Using a 2D Culture System
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Neural Progenitor Cell Polarity and Cortical Development.

Yoko Arai1, Elena Taverna2

  • 1Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology (CIRB), Collège de France, CNRS UMR 7241/INSERM U1050, PSL Research University, Paris, France.

Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
|December 21, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Cell polarity is crucial for neural stem cells during brain development. Disruptions in this process are linked to neurodevelopmental disorders like autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and schizophrenia.

Keywords:
apical progenitorsbasal progenitorsbrain developmentepithelial polarityepithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT)neural stem and progenitor cellsneurodevelopmental disorderspolarity

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Neurons in the cerebral cortex develop from neural stem and progenitor cells via neurogenesis.
  • Neural stem cells exhibit distinct classes based on cell division location and polarity.
  • Cell polarity involves asymmetric distribution of cellular components, influencing stem cell function and environmental integration.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of cell polarity in neural stem and progenitor cells during cerebral cortex development.
  • To understand how polarity influences stem cell function and environmental cue integration.
  • To highlight the connection between impaired cell polarity and neurodevelopmental disorders.

Main Methods:

  • Classification of neural stem and progenitor cells based on mitosis location (apical/basal) and polarity features (bipolar, monopolar, non-polar).
  • Analysis of the polarized architecture, including asymmetric localization of proteins, mRNAs, and organelles (centrosome, Golgi apparatus).
  • Review of literature linking cell polarity to stem cell function and neurodevelopmental outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Polarized architecture is a key feature of neural stem cells, involving asymmetric localization of key cellular components.
  • Cell polarity enables neural stem cells to respond to environmental cues within the developing cerebral cortex niche.
  • Impairment of cell polarity is associated with significant neurodevelopmental disorders, including Down syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), and schizophrenia.

Conclusions:

  • Cell polarity is essential for proper neural stem and progenitor cell function during embryonic brain development.
  • The asymmetric organization of neural stem cells is critical for integrating niche signals.
  • Defects in cell polarity represent a potential underlying mechanism for various neurodevelopmental disorders.