Polarized, non-overlapping, regularly spaced, tiled organization of radial glial cells (RGCs) serves as a framework to generate and organize cortical neuronal columns, layers, and circuitry. Here, we show that mediator of cell motility 1 (Memo1) is a critical determinant of radial glial tiling during neocortical development. Memo1 deletion or knockdown leads to hyperbranching of RGC basal processes and disrupted RGC tiling, resulting in aberrant radial unit assembly and neuronal layering.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: Apoptosis plays an essential role during brain development, yet the precise mechanism by which this pathway is regulated in the brain remains unknown. In particular, mammalian cells are known to express multiple anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins. However, the cells of the developing brain could also exist in a primed state in which the loss of a single anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family protein is sufficient to trigger apoptosis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdhesive interactions of cadherins induce crosstalk between adhesion complexes and the actin cytoskeleton, allowing strengthening of adhesions and cytoskeletal organization. The underlying mechanisms are not completely understood, and microtubules (MTs) might be involved, as for integrin-mediated cell-extracellular-matrix adhesions. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between N-cadherin and MTs by analyzing the influence of N-cadherin engagement on MT distribution and dynamics.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnnu Rev Cell Dev Biol
December 2013
The emergence of functional neuronal connectivity in the developing cerebral cortex depends on neuronal migration. This process enables appropriate positioning of neurons and the emergence of neuronal identity so that the correct patterns of functional synaptic connectivity between the right types and numbers of neurons can emerge. Delineating the complexities of neuronal migration is critical to our understanding of normal cerebral cortical formation and neurodevelopmental disorders resulting from neuronal migration defects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMorphogenic gradients originating from signaling centers along the CNS developmental axes contribute to CNS patterning. Reporting in this issue of Developmental Cell, Lanctot et al. (2013) show that the Nde1-Lis1 complex interacts with Brap, a mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway negative regulator, to facilitate position-dependent modulation of neural progenitor fate and CNS patterning.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFN-cadherin is a major adhesion molecule involved in the development and plasticity of the nervous system. N-cadherin-mediated cell adhesion regulates neuroepithelial cell polarity, neuronal precursor migration, growth cone migration and synaptic plasticity. In vitro, it has been involved in signaling events regulating processes such as cell mobility, proliferation and differentiation.
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