Proper formation of the cerebral cortex depends on an orderly production of a large number of neurons during embryonic development. Recent studies have convincingly shown that radial glial cells are a major population of neuronal progenitor cells in the developing cortex. In addition to their well-characterized role in guiding radial migration of newly born neurons, radial glial cells divide in the ventricular zone to generate neurons. Precise control of radial glial cell division in the developing cortex is likely a major factor in controlling the number of neurons in the mature cerebral cortex. Despite this fundamental role in cortical development, the mechanisms that regulate radial glial cell division are poorly understood. The long-term goal of this project is to elucidate the molecular and cellular processes underlying radial glial cell division and daughter cell fate specification. During peak neurogenesis, radial glial cells predominantly divide asymmetrically to self-renew and to generate neurons. Asymmetric cell division usually requires the dividing cells to be polarized so as to ensure differential inheritance of cell fate determinants by the two daughter cells. The objectives of this proposal are to uncover the molecular control of radial glial cell polarity and to define how the polarization of radial glial cells may regulate the mode of their division (i.e. being symmetric or asymmetric) in the developing cortex. Radial glial cells originate from epithelial cells that are highly polarized with distinct apical and basal subcellular compartments. This apical-basal polarity is controlled by a set of evolutionarily conserved protein complexes, among which the Par (partition defective) protein complex plays a central role. Moreover, the Par protein complex is essential for polarizing neural progenitor cells (i.e. neuroblasts and sensory organ precursors, SOPs) in the Drosophila nervous system and ensuring their asymmetric cell division. Based on these observations, the central hypothesis of this application is that the mammalian Par (mPar) protein complex controls the polarity and the division mode of radial glial cells in the developing cortex. Guided by strong preliminary data, this hypothesis will be tested by pursuing these three specific aims: 1) To determine the subcellular localization of the mPar protein complex in dividing radial glial cells;2) To define the function of the mPar protein complex in regulating radial glial cell division and daughter cell fate specification;and 3) To delineate the molecular and cellular pathways of the mPar protein complex in the developing cortex. The approach is innovative, because it combines advanced laser scanning microscopy with molecular genetics techniques. The proposed research will provide new insights concerning how neuronal progenitor cells in the developing cortex divide to give rise to neurons. Many human neurological and psychiatric disorders are associated with defects in cortical neurogenesis, ranging from severe malformations with mental retardation and epilepsy, to more subtle ones such as autism and maladaptive behavior associated with drug abuse. The results of this study may shed light on mechanisms relevant to the etiology of many of these disorders.

Public Health Relevance

This study investigates the processes underlying how neuronal progenitor cells divide to give rise to neurons in the developing brain, an important and under-investigated area in neuroscience. It will advance and expand the understanding and treatment of a variety of neurological and psychiatric disorders caused through defects in cerebral cortex development, such as mental retardation, epilepsy, autism, and maladaptive decision- making behavior associated with drug abuse.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DA024681-02
Application #
7633345
Study Section
Neurogenesis and Cell Fate Study Section (NCF)
Program Officer
Wu, Da-Yu
Project Start
2008-07-01
Project End
2013-04-30
Budget Start
2009-05-01
Budget End
2010-04-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2009
Total Cost
$426,600
Indirect Cost
Name
Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research
Department
Type
DUNS #
064931884
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10065
Liu, Wenying Angela; Chen, She; Li, Zhizhong et al. (2018) PARD3 dysfunction in conjunction with dynamic HIPPO signaling drives cortical enlargement with massive heterotopia. Genes Dev 32:763-780
Sultan, Khadeejah T; Shi, Song-Hai (2018) Generation of diverse cortical inhibitory interneurons. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Dev Biol 7:
Ma, Jian; Shen, Zhongfu; Yu, Yong-Chun et al. (2018) Neural lineage tracing in the mammalian brain. Curr Opin Neurobiol 50:7-16
Sultan, Khadeejah T; Liu, Wenying Angela; Li, Zhao-Lu et al. (2018) Progressive divisions of multipotent neural progenitors generate late-born chandelier cells in the neocortex. Nat Commun 9:4595
Qi, Yuchen; Zhang, Xin-Jun; Renier, Nicolas et al. (2017) Combined small-molecule inhibition accelerates the derivation of functional cortical neurons from human pluripotent stem cells. Nat Biotechnol 35:154-163
Zhang, Xin-Jun; Li, Zhizhong; Han, Zhi et al. (2017) Precise inhibitory microcircuit assembly of developmentally related neocortical interneurons in clusters. Nat Commun 8:16091
Shi, Wei; Xianyu, Anjin; Han, Zhi et al. (2017) Ontogenetic establishment of order-specific nuclear organization in the mammalian thalamus. Nat Neurosci 20:516-528
Sultan, Khadeejah T; Han, Zhi; Zhang, Xin-Jun et al. (2016) Clonally Related GABAergic Interneurons Do Not Randomly Disperse but Frequently Form Local Clusters in the Forebrain. Neuron 92:31-44
Tan, Xin; Liu, Wenying Angela; Zhang, Xin-Jun et al. (2016) Vascular Influence on Ventral Telencephalic Progenitors and Neocortical Interneuron Production. Dev Cell 36:624-38
He, Shuijin; Li, Zhizhong; Ge, Shaoyu et al. (2015) Inside-Out Radial Migration Facilitates Lineage-Dependent Neocortical Microcircuit Assembly. Neuron 86:1159-66

Showing the most recent 10 out of 30 publications