Epigenetics and epitranscriptomics in temporal patterning of cortical neural progenitor competence

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Biology
• Epigenetics

Background:

• Embryonic brain development involves sequential generation of diverse neural cell types from neural progenitor/stem cells (NPCs).
• NPCs transition through developmental stages, but the molecular control of this temporal coordination is not fully understood.
• Epigenetic mechanisms (chromatin, DNA methylation, histone modifications) and epitranscriptomics (RNA modifications) are implicated in neural development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review advances in understanding the molecular regulation of sequential NPC lineage specification in the embryonic mammalian brain.
• To focus on the roles of epigenetic and epitranscriptomic mechanisms in coordinating NPC behavior.
• To discuss a model of epigenetic and transcriptional prepatterning in NPC developmental competence.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent studies on epigenetic and epitranscriptomic regulation in neural development.
• Analysis of findings related to lineage-specific gene transcript turnover in NPCs.
• Synthesis of information to propose a model for NPC developmental competence.

Main Results:

• Epigenetic and epitranscriptomic mechanisms play critical roles in coordinating NPC lineage specification.
• Rapid turnover of lineage-specific transcripts suggests early determination of NPC fate competence.
• Multiple regulatory systems cooperate to control NPC behavior.

Conclusions:

• Epigenetic and epitranscriptomic regulation are key to the precise temporal coordination of NPC differentiation.
• NPC developmental competence is established earlier than previously thought, controlled by prepatterning mechanisms.
• A coordinated interplay of regulatory systems ensures the ordered generation of neural cell types during embryonic brain development.