Regularly interspaced, non-overlapping, tiled organization of polarized radial glial cells (RGCs) serves as an instructive framework to generate and organize neurons in the developing cerebral cortex. Disruptions in this fundamental cellular feature of the developing cerebral cortex lead to a spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., autism, schizophrenia, and epilepsy) and brain malformations (e.g., lissencephaly, schizencephaly, microencephaly, and macro/microgyria). However, little is known about the molecular logic of radial glial tiling and how it drives the appropriate formation of the cerebral cortex. We discovered that RGC tiling is dependent on Memo1 (Mediator of cell motility 1). Genetic mutations in MEMO1 lead to autism. Memo1 thus provides a window into the mechanisms that instruct radial glial tiling and the resultant assembly of the cerebral cortex. Leveraging the latest advances in progenitor specific mouse genetic models of Memo1, MADM based profiling of radial glial differentiation, mapping of Memo1 interactome, mechanistic dissection of cellular functions of Memo1, live imaging of Memo1 deficient radial glial cell functions, and functional analysis of MEMO1 mutation from autism probands, we aim to (a) discover the role of Memo1 in the tiling of RGCs and the resultant formation of the cerebral cortex, (b) identify the Memo1 interactome that contributes to and determines RGC tiling, and (c) interrogate the contributions of MEMO1 to cortical malformations associated with autism. Collectively, the outcome of this work will reveal the molecular logic underlying radial glial tiling, the vital relevance of this process for cortical development, and how changes in this process can cause brain malformations and neurodevelopmental disorders. Importantly, understanding how radial glial cells are assembled and organized appropriately to facilitate cerebral cortical formation offers the opportunity to redraw the rules of corticogenesis in the service of better diagnostic and therapeutic insights into neurodevelopmental disorders.

Public Health Relevance

Tiled radial glial cells (RGCs) provide a template for the formation of the cerebral cortex and abnormalities in this intricate organization of RGCs lead to aberrant generation, placement and connectivity of neurons in human cerebral cortex. Using Memo1 (Mediator of cell motility 1), an autism linked gene, as a molecular guide, this research effort will decipher the blueprint underlying radial glial tiling. Understanding the molecular logic of radial glial tiling and the relevance of this process for cortical development and neurodevelopmental disorders will enable us to target and ameliorate brain malformations that lead to intractable brain diseases such as autism and epilepsy.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01HD098657-01
Application #
9734287
Study Section
Neurogenesis and Cell Fate Study Section (NCF)
Program Officer
Bardhan, Sujata
Project Start
2019-05-08
Project End
2024-01-31
Budget Start
2019-05-08
Budget End
2020-01-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2019
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Department
Physiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
608195277
City
Chapel Hill
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27599