1
|
Iwata R, Vanderhaeghen P. Metabolic mechanisms of species-specific developmental tempo. Dev Cell 2024:S1534-5807(24)00361-7. [PMID: 38906137 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.05.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Development consists of a highly ordered suite of steps and transitions, like choreography. Although these sequences are often evolutionarily conserved, they can display species variations in duration and speed, thereby modifying final organ size or function. Despite their evolutionary significance, the mechanisms underlying species-specific scaling of developmental tempo have remained unclear. Here, we will review recent findings that implicate global cellular mechanisms, particularly intermediary and protein metabolism, as species-specific modifiers of developmental tempo. In various systems, from somitic cell oscillations to neuronal development, metabolic pathways display species differences. These have been linked to mitochondrial metabolism, which can influence the species-specific speed of developmental transitions. Thus, intermediary metabolic pathways regulate developmental tempo together with other global processes, including proteostasis and chromatin remodeling. By linking metabolism and the evolution of developmental trajectories, these findings provide opportunities to decipher how species-specific cellular timing can influence organism fitness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryohei Iwata
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KUL, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Pierre Vanderhaeghen
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KUL, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lindhout FW, Krienen FM, Pollard KS, Lancaster MA. A molecular and cellular perspective on human brain evolution and tempo. Nature 2024; 630:596-608. [PMID: 38898293 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07521-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
The evolution of the modern human brain was accompanied by distinct molecular and cellular specializations, which underpin our diverse cognitive abilities but also increase our susceptibility to neurological diseases. These features, some specific to humans and others shared with related species, manifest during different stages of brain development. In this multi-stage process, neural stem cells proliferate to produce a large and diverse progenitor pool, giving rise to excitatory or inhibitory neurons that integrate into circuits during further maturation. This process unfolds over varying time scales across species and has progressively become slower in the human lineage, with differences in tempo correlating with differences in brain size, cell number and diversity, and connectivity. Here we introduce the terms 'bradychrony' and 'tachycrony' to describe slowed and accelerated developmental tempos, respectively. We review how recent technical advances across disciplines, including advanced engineering of in vitro models, functional comparative genetics and high-throughput single-cell profiling, are leading to a deeper understanding of how specializations of the human brain arise during bradychronic neurodevelopment. Emerging insights point to a central role for genetics, gene-regulatory networks, cellular innovations and developmental tempo, which together contribute to the establishment of human specializations during various stages of neurodevelopment and at different points in evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Feline W Lindhout
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Fenna M Krienen
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Katherine S Pollard
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Institute for Computational Health Sciences, and Institute for Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Madeline A Lancaster
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lee AT, Chang EF, Paredes MF, Nowakowski TJ. Large-scale neurophysiology and single-cell profiling in human neuroscience. Nature 2024; 630:587-595. [PMID: 38898291 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07405-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Advances in large-scale single-unit human neurophysiology, single-cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics and long-term ex vivo tissue culture of surgically resected human brain tissue have provided an unprecedented opportunity to study human neuroscience. In this Perspective, we describe the development of these paradigms, including Neuropixels and recent brain-cell atlas efforts, and discuss how their convergence will further investigations into the cellular underpinnings of network-level activity in the human brain. Specifically, we introduce a workflow in which functionally mapped samples of human brain tissue resected during awake brain surgery can be cultured ex vivo for multi-modal cellular and functional profiling. We then explore how advances in human neuroscience will affect clinical practice, and conclude by discussing societal and ethical implications to consider. Potential findings from the field of human neuroscience will be vast, ranging from insights into human neurodiversity and evolution to providing cell-type-specific access to study and manipulate diseased circuits in pathology. This Perspective aims to provide a unifying framework for the field of human neuroscience as we welcome an exciting era for understanding the functional cytoarchitecture of the human brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anthony T Lee
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Edward F Chang
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Mercedes F Paredes
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Tomasz J Nowakowski
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Casimir P, Iwata R, Vanderhaeghen P. Linking mitochondria metabolism, developmental timing, and human brain evolution. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2024; 86:102182. [PMID: 38555796 PMCID: PMC11190843 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2024.102182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Changes in developmental timing are an important factor of evolution in organ shape and function. This is particularly striking for human brain development, which, compared with other mammals, is considerably prolonged at the level of the cerebral cortex, resulting in brain neoteny. Here, we review recent findings that indicate that mitochondria and metabolism contribute to species differences in the tempo of cortical neuron development. Mitochondria display species-specific developmental timeline and metabolic activity patterns that are highly correlated with the speed of neuron maturation. Enhancing mitochondrial activity in human cortical neurons results in their accelerated maturation, while its reduction leads to decreased maturation rates in mouse neurons. Together with other global and gene-specific mechanisms, mitochondria thus act as a cellular hourglass of neuronal developmental tempo and may thereby contribute to species-specific features of human brain ontogeny.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Casimir
- VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Institut de Recherches en Biologie Humaine et Moléculaire (IRIBHM), and ULB Neuroscience Institute (UNI), 1070 Brussels, Belgium; Department of Neurology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Brugmann, ULB, 1020 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ryohei Iwata
- VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium. https://twitter.com/@Ryo2Iwata
| | - Pierre Vanderhaeghen
- VIB Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Plaitakis A, Sidiropoulou K, Kotzamani D, Litso I, Zaganas I, Spanaki C. Evolution of Glutamate Metabolism via GLUD2 Enhances Lactate-Dependent Synaptic Plasticity and Complex Cognition. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5297. [PMID: 38791334 PMCID: PMC11120665 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Human evolution is characterized by rapid brain enlargement and the emergence of unique cognitive abilities. Besides its distinctive cytoarchitectural organization and extensive inter-neuronal connectivity, the human brain is also defined by high rates of synaptic, mainly glutamatergic, transmission, and energy utilization. While these adaptations' origins remain elusive, evolutionary changes occurred in synaptic glutamate metabolism in the common ancestor of humans and apes via the emergence of GLUD2, a gene encoding the human glutamate dehydrogenase 2 (hGDH2) isoenzyme. Driven by positive selection, hGDH2 became adapted to function upon intense excitatory firing, a process central to the long-term strengthening of synaptic connections. It also gained expression in brain astrocytes and cortical pyramidal neurons, including the CA1-CA3 hippocampal cells, neurons crucial to cognition. In mice transgenic for GLUD2, theta-burst-evoked long-term potentiation (LTP) is markedly enhanced in hippocampal CA3-CA1 synapses, with patch-clamp recordings from CA1 pyramidal neurons revealing increased sNMDA receptor currents. D-lactate blocked LTP enhancement, implying that glutamate metabolism via hGDH2 potentiates L-lactate-dependent glia-neuron interaction, a process essential to memory consolidation. The transgenic (Tg) mice exhibited increased dendritic spine density/synaptogenesis in the hippocampus and improved complex cognitive functions. Hence, enhancement of neuron-glia communication, via GLUD2 evolution, likely contributed to human cognitive advancement by potentiating synaptic plasticity and inter-neuronal connectivity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Plaitakis
- Department of Neurology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; (D.K.); (I.L.); (I.Z.)
| | - Kyriaki Sidiropoulou
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece;
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (IMBB-FORTH), 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Dimitra Kotzamani
- Department of Neurology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; (D.K.); (I.L.); (I.Z.)
| | - Ionela Litso
- Department of Neurology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; (D.K.); (I.L.); (I.Z.)
| | - Ioannis Zaganas
- Department of Neurology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; (D.K.); (I.L.); (I.Z.)
- Neurology Department, PaGNI University General Hospital of Heraklion, 71500 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Cleanthe Spanaki
- Department of Neurology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Voutes, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece; (D.K.); (I.L.); (I.Z.)
- Neurology Department, PaGNI University General Hospital of Heraklion, 71500 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Chandel AS, Keseroglu K, Özbudak EM. Oscillatory control of embryonic development. Development 2024; 151:dev202191. [PMID: 38727565 PMCID: PMC11128281 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
Proper embryonic development depends on the timely progression of a genetic program. One of the key mechanisms for achieving precise control of developmental timing is to use gene expression oscillations. In this Review, we examine how gene expression oscillations encode temporal information during vertebrate embryonic development by discussing the gene expression oscillations occurring during somitogenesis, neurogenesis, myogenesis and pancreas development. These oscillations play important but varied physiological functions in different contexts. Oscillations control the period of somite formation during somitogenesis, whereas they regulate the proliferation-to-differentiation switch of stem cells and progenitor cells during neurogenesis, myogenesis and pancreas development. We describe the similarities and differences of the expression pattern in space (i.e. whether oscillations are synchronous or asynchronous across neighboring cells) and in time (i.e. different time scales) of mammalian Hes/zebrafish Her genes and their targets in different tissues. We further summarize experimental evidence for the functional role of their oscillations. Finally, we discuss the outstanding questions for future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Angad Singh Chandel
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Systems Biology and Physiology Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Kemal Keseroglu
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Ertuğrul M. Özbudak
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Fernández V, Borrell V. Keep calm and make neurons: The effects of glucocorticoids on human cortical neurogenesis. Neuron 2024; 112:1373-1375. [PMID: 38697018 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2024.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Maternal well-being is important for the development of the fetus, with a key influence on its nervous system. In this issue of Neuron, Krontira et al.1 implicate glucocorticoids, the stress hormones, in the regulation of neural stem cell identity and proliferation, with long-lasting consequences on brain architecture and educational attainment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Fernández
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas & Universidad Miguel Hernández, Sant Joan d'Alacant 03550, Spain
| | - Víctor Borrell
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas & Universidad Miguel Hernández, Sant Joan d'Alacant 03550, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Heredia Cedillo A, Lambert D, Morsella E. Identifying Consciousness in Other Creatures: Three Initial Steps. Behav Sci (Basel) 2024; 14:337. [PMID: 38667133 PMCID: PMC11047643 DOI: 10.3390/bs14040337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2024] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Identifying consciousness in other creatures, be they animals or exotic creatures that have yet to be discovered, remains a great scientific challenge. We delineate the first three steps that we think are necessary for identifying consciousness in other creatures. Step 1 is to define the particular kind of consciousness in which one is interested. Step 2 is to identify, in humans, the key differences between the brain processes that are associated with consciousness and the brain processes that are not associated with consciousness. For Step 2, to identify these differences, we focus on passive frame theory. Step 3 concerns how the insights derived from consciousness research on humans (e.g., concerning these differences) can be generalized to other creatures. We discuss the significance of examining how consciousness was fashioned by the process of evolution, a process that could be happenstance and replete with incessant tinkering, yielding adaptations that can be suboptimal and counterintuitive, far different in nature from our efficiently designed robotic systems. We conclude that the more that is understood about the differences between conscious processing and unconscious processing in humans, the easier it will be to identify consciousness in other creatures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Heredia Cedillo
- Department of Psychology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA; (D.L.); (E.M.)
| | - Dennis Lambert
- Department of Psychology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA; (D.L.); (E.M.)
| | - Ezequiel Morsella
- Department of Psychology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA; (D.L.); (E.M.)
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Liu J, Mosti F, Zhao HT, Sotelo-Fonseca JE, Escobar-Tomlienovich CF, Lollis D, Musso CM, Mao Y, Massri AJ, Doll HM, Sousa AM, Wray GA, Schmidt E, Silver DL. A human-specific enhancer fine-tunes radial glia potency and corticogenesis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.10.588953. [PMID: 38645099 PMCID: PMC11030412 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.10.588953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Humans evolved an extraordinarily expanded and complex cerebral cortex, associated with developmental and gene regulatory modifications 1-3 . Human accelerated regions (HARs) are highly conserved genomic sequences with human-specific nucleotide substitutions. Although there are thousands of annotated HARs, their functional contribution to human-specific cortical development is largely unknown 4,5 . HARE5 is a HAR transcriptional enhancer of the WNT signaling receptor Frizzled8 (FZD8) active during brain development 6 . Here, using genome-edited mouse and primate models, we demonstrate that human (Hs) HARE5 fine-tunes cortical development and connectivity by controlling the proliferative and neurogenic capacity of neural progenitor cells (NPCs). Hs-HARE5 knock-in mice have significantly enlarged neocortices containing more neurons. By measuring neural dynamics in vivo we show these anatomical features correlate with increased functional independence between cortical regions. To understand the underlying developmental mechanisms, we assess progenitor fate using live imaging, lineage analysis, and single-cell RNA sequencing. This reveals Hs-HARE5 modifies radial glial progenitor behavior, with increased self-renewal at early developmental stages followed by expanded neurogenic potential. We use genome-edited human and chimpanzee (Pt) NPCs and cortical organoids to assess the relative enhancer activity and function of Hs-HARE5 and Pt-HARE5. Using these orthogonal strategies we show four human-specific variants in HARE5 drive increased enhancer activity which promotes progenitor proliferation. These findings illustrate how small changes in regulatory DNA can directly impact critical signaling pathways and brain development. Our study uncovers new functions for HARs as key regulatory elements crucial for the expansion and complexity of the human cerebral cortex.
Collapse
|
10
|
Heesen SH, Köhr G. GABAergic interneuron diversity and organization are crucial for the generation of human-specific functional neural networks in cerebral organoids. Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1389335. [PMID: 38665372 PMCID: PMC11044699 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1389335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
This mini review investigates the importance of GABAergic interneurons for the network function of human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC)-derived brain organoids. The presented evidence suggests that the abundance, diversity and three-dimensional cortical organization of GABAergic interneurons are the primary elements responsible for the creation of synchronous neuronal firing patterns. Without intricate inhibition, coupled oscillatory patterns cannot reach a sufficient complexity to transfer spatiotemporal information constituting physiological network function. Furthermore, human-specific brain network function seems to be mediated by a more complex and interconnected inhibitory structure that remains developmentally flexible for a longer period when compared to rodents. This suggests that several characteristics of human brain networks cannot be captured by rodent models, emphasizing the need for model systems like organoids that adequately mimic physiological human brain function in vitro.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian H. Heesen
- Molecular and Behavioural Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Georg Köhr
- Department of Neurophysiology, Mannheim Center for Translational Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Physiology of Neural Networks, Central Institute of Mental Health, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Gavenas J, Rutishauser U, Schurger A, Maoz U. Slow ramping emerges from spontaneous fluctuations in spiking neural networks. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.05.27.542589. [PMID: 37398452 PMCID: PMC10312459 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.27.542589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
1. We reveal a mechanism for slow-ramping signals before spontaneous voluntary movements. 2. Slow synapses stabilize spontaneous fluctuations in spiking neural network. 3. We validate model predictions in human frontal cortical single-neuron recordings. 4. The model recreates the readiness potential in an EEG proxy signal. 5. Neurons that ramp together had correlated activity before ramping onset. The capacity to initiate actions endogenously is critical for goal-directed behavior. Spontaneous voluntary actions are typically preceded by slow-ramping activity in medial frontal cortex that begins around two seconds before movement, which may reflect spontaneous fluctuations that influence action timing. However, the mechanisms by which these slow ramping signals emerge from single-neuron and network dynamics remain poorly understood. Here, we developed a spiking neural-network model that produces spontaneous slow ramping activity in single neurons and population activity with onsets ∼2 seconds before threshold crossings. A key prediction of our model is that neurons that ramp together have correlated firing patterns before ramping onset. We confirmed this model-derived hypothesis in a dataset of human single neuron recordings from medial frontal cortex. Our results suggest that slow ramping signals reflect bounded spontaneous fluctuations that emerge from quasi-winner-take-all dynamics in clustered networks that are temporally stabilized by slow-acting synapses.
Collapse
|
12
|
Ziak J, Dorskind JM, Trigg B, Sudarsanam S, Jin XO, Hand RA, Kolodkin AL. Microtubule-binding protein MAP1B regulates interstitial axon branching of cortical neurons via the tubulin tyrosination cycle. EMBO J 2024; 43:1214-1243. [PMID: 38388748 PMCID: PMC10987652 DOI: 10.1038/s44318-024-00050-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Regulation of directed axon guidance and branching during development is essential for the generation of neuronal networks. However, the molecular mechanisms that underlie interstitial (or collateral) axon branching in the mammalian brain remain unresolved. Here, we investigate interstitial axon branching in vivo using an approach for precise labeling of layer 2/3 callosal projection neurons (CPNs). This method allows for quantitative analysis of axonal morphology at high acuity and also manipulation of gene expression in well-defined temporal windows. We find that the GSK3β serine/threonine kinase promotes interstitial axon branching in layer 2/3 CPNs by releasing MAP1B-mediated inhibition of axon branching. Further, we find that the tubulin tyrosination cycle is a key downstream component of GSK3β/MAP1B signaling. These data suggest a cell-autonomous molecular regulation of cortical neuron axon morphology, in which GSK3β can release a MAP1B-mediated brake on interstitial axon branching upstream of the posttranslational tubulin code.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Ziak
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 725 North Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Joelle M Dorskind
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 725 North Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brian Trigg
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 725 North Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Sriram Sudarsanam
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 725 North Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Xinyu O Jin
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 725 North Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Randal A Hand
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 725 North Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
- Prilenia Therapeutics, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alex L Kolodkin
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 725 North Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Pigeon J, Hassan BA. Timing neurogenesis: a clock or an algorithm? Curr Opin Genet Dev 2024; 85:102156. [PMID: 38354530 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2024.102156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Emerging evidence supports the existence of dedicated molecular mechanisms under evolutionary selection to control time during neurogenesis. Here, we briefly review these mechanisms and discuss a potentially useful conceptual framework inspired by computer science to think about how these biological mechanisms operate during brain development and evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julien Pigeon
- Institut du Cerveau-Paris Brain Institute (ICM), Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Bassem A Hassan
- Institut du Cerveau-Paris Brain Institute (ICM), Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Glausier JR, Bouchet-Marquis C, Maier M, Banks-Tibbs T, Wu K, Ning J, Melchitzky D, Lewis DA, Freyberg Z. Characterization of the three-dimensional synaptic and mitochondrial nanoarchitecture within glutamatergic synaptic complexes in postmortem human brain via focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.26.582174. [PMID: 38463986 PMCID: PMC10925168 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.26.582174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Glutamatergic synapses are the primary site of excitatory synaptic signaling and neural communication in the cerebral cortex. Electron microscopy (EM) studies in non-human model organisms have demonstrated that glutamate synaptic activity and functioning are directly reflected in quantifiable ultrastructural features. Thus, quantitative EM analysis of glutamate synapses in ex vivo preserved human brain tissue has the potential to provide novel insight into in vivo synaptic functioning. However, factors associated with the acquisition and preservation of human brain tissue have resulted in persistent concerns regarding the potential confounding effects of antemortem and postmortem biological processes on synaptic and sub-synaptic ultrastructural features. Thus, we sought to determine how well glutamate synaptic relationships and nanoarchitecture are preserved in postmortem human dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), a region that substantially differs in size and architecture from model systems. Focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM), a powerful volume EM (VEM) approach, was employed to generate high-fidelity, fine-resolution, three-dimensional (3D) micrographic datasets appropriate for quantitative analyses. Using postmortem human DLPFC with a 6-hour postmortem interval, we optimized a tissue preservation and staining workflow that generated samples of excellent ultrastructural preservation and the high-contrast staining intensity required for FIB-SEM imaging. Quantitative analysis of sub-cellular, sub-synaptic and organelle components within glutamate axo-spinous synapses revealed that ultrastructural features of synaptic function and activity were well-preserved within and across individual synapses in postmortem human brain tissue. The synaptic, sub-synaptic and organelle measures were highly consistent with findings from experimental models that are free from antemortem or postmortem effects. Further, dense reconstruction of neuropil revealed a unique, ultrastructurally-complex, spiny dendritic shaft that exhibited features characteristic of neuronal processes with heightened synaptic communication, integration and plasticity. Altogether, our findings provide a critical proof-of-concept that ex vivo VEM analysis provides a valuable and informative means to infer in vivo functioning of human brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Tabitha Banks-Tibbs
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh
- College of Medicine, The Ohio State University
| | - Ken Wu
- Materials and Structural Analysis, Thermo Fisher Scientific
| | - Jiying Ning
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh
| | | | | | - Zachary Freyberg
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Dehay C, Huttner WB. Development and evolution of the primate neocortex from a progenitor cell perspective. Development 2024; 151:dev199797. [PMID: 38369736 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
The generation of neurons in the developing neocortex is a major determinant of neocortex size. Crucially, the increase in cortical neuron numbers in the primate lineage, notably in the upper-layer neurons, contributes to increased cognitive abilities. Here, we review major evolutionary changes affecting the apical progenitors in the ventricular zone and focus on the key germinal zone constituting the foundation of neocortical neurogenesis in primates, the outer subventricular zone (OSVZ). We summarize characteristic features of the OSVZ and its key stem cell type, the basal (or outer) radial glia. Next, we concentrate on primate-specific and human-specific genes, expressed in OSVZ-progenitors, the ability of which to amplify these progenitors by targeting the regulation of the cell cycle ultimately underlies the evolutionary increase in upper-layer neurons. Finally, we address likely differences in neocortical development between present-day humans and Neanderthals that are based on human-specific amino acid substitutions in proteins operating in cortical progenitors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Colette Dehay
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Inserm, Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute U1208, F-69500 Bron, France
| | - Wieland B Huttner
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Wang B, Starr AL, Fraser HB. Cell-type-specific cis-regulatory divergence in gene expression and chromatin accessibility revealed by human-chimpanzee hybrid cells. eLife 2024; 12:RP89594. [PMID: 38358392 PMCID: PMC10942608 DOI: 10.7554/elife.89594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Although gene expression divergence has long been postulated to be the primary driver of human evolution, identifying the genes and genetic variants underlying uniquely human traits has proven to be quite challenging. Theory suggests that cell-type-specific cis-regulatory variants may fuel evolutionary adaptation due to the specificity of their effects. These variants can precisely tune the expression of a single gene in a single cell-type, avoiding the potentially deleterious consequences of trans-acting changes and non-cell type-specific changes that can impact many genes and cell types, respectively. It has recently become possible to quantify human-specific cis-acting regulatory divergence by measuring allele-specific expression in human-chimpanzee hybrid cells-the product of fusing induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells of each species in vitro. However, these cis-regulatory changes have only been explored in a limited number of cell types. Here, we quantify human-chimpanzee cis-regulatory divergence in gene expression and chromatin accessibility across six cell types, enabling the identification of highly cell-type-specific cis-regulatory changes. We find that cell-type-specific genes and regulatory elements evolve faster than those shared across cell types, suggesting an important role for genes with cell-type-specific expression in human evolution. Furthermore, we identify several instances of lineage-specific natural selection that may have played key roles in specific cell types, such as coordinated changes in the cis-regulation of dozens of genes involved in neuronal firing in motor neurons. Finally, using novel metrics and a machine learning model, we identify genetic variants that likely alter chromatin accessibility and transcription factor binding, leading to neuron-specific changes in the expression of the neurodevelopmentally important genes FABP7 and GAD1. Overall, our results demonstrate that integrative analysis of cis-regulatory divergence in chromatin accessibility and gene expression across cell types is a promising approach to identify the specific genes and genetic variants that make us human.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ban Wang
- Department of Biology, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
| | | | - Hunter B Fraser
- Department of Biology, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Abstract
Brain development in humans is achieved through precise spatiotemporal genetic control, the mechanisms of which remain largely elusive. Recently, integration of technological advances in human stem cell-based modelling with genome editing has emerged as a powerful platform to establish causative links between genotypes and phenotypes directly in the human system. Here, we review our current knowledge of complex genetic regulation of each key step of human brain development through the lens of evolutionary specialization and neurodevelopmental disorders and highlight the use of human stem cell-derived 2D cultures and 3D brain organoids to investigate human-enriched features and disease mechanisms. We also discuss opportunities and challenges of integrating new technologies to reveal the genetic architecture of human brain development and disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhou
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hongjun Song
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- The Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Guo-Li Ming
- Department of Neuroscience and Mahoney Institute for Neurosciences, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Usui N. Possible roles of deep cortical neurons and oligodendrocytes in the neural basis of human sociality. Anat Sci Int 2024; 99:34-47. [PMID: 38010534 PMCID: PMC10771383 DOI: 10.1007/s12565-023-00747-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Sociality is an instinctive property of organisms that live in relation to others and is a complex characteristic of higher order brain functions. However, the evolution of the human brain to acquire higher order brain functions, such as sociality, and the neural basis for executing these functions and their control mechanisms are largely unknown. Several studies have attempted to evaluate how human sociality was acquired during the course of evolution and the mechanisms controlling sociality from a neurodevelopment viewpoint. This review discusses these findings in the context of human brain evolution and the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Comparative genomic studies of postmortem primate brains have demonstrated human-specific regulatory mechanisms underlying higher order brain functions, providing evidence for the contribution of oligodendrocytes to human brain function. Functional analyses of the causative genes of ASD in animal models have demonstrated that the neural basis of social behavior is associated with layer 6 (L6) of the neocortex and oligodendrocytes. These findings demonstrate that both neurons and oligodendrocytes contribute to the neural basis and molecular mechanisms underlying human brain evolution and social functioning. This review provides novel insights into sociability and the corresponding neural bases of brain disorders and evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noriyoshi Usui
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, 565-0871, Japan.
- Omics Center, Center of Medical Innovation and Translational Research, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, 565-0871, Japan.
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Suita, 565-0871, Japan.
- Global Center for Medical Engineering and Informatics, Osaka University, Suita, 565-0871, Japan.
- Addiction Research Unit, Osaka Psychiatric Research Center, Osaka Psychiatric Medical Center, Osaka, 541-8567, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Nomura T. In Vitro Patch-Clamp. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2794:221-244. [PMID: 38630233 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3810-1_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
The patch-clamp technique is one of the most useful tools to analyze the function of electrically active cells such as neurons. This technique allows for the analysis of proteins (ion channels and receptors), cells (neurons), and synapses that are the building blocks of neuronal networks. Cortical development involves coordinated changes in functional measures at each of these levels of analysis that reflect both cellular and circuit maturation. This chapter explains the technical and theoretical basis of patch-clamp methodology and introduces several examples of how this technique can be applied in the context of cortical development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Toshihiro Nomura
- Department of Neuroscience, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Libé-Philippot B, Lejeune A, Wierda K, Louros N, Erkol E, Vlaeminck I, Beckers S, Gaspariunaite V, Bilheu A, Konstantoulea K, Nyitrai H, De Vleeschouwer M, Vennekens KM, Vidal N, Bird TW, Soto DC, Jaspers T, Dewilde M, Dennis MY, Rousseau F, Comoletti D, Schymkowitz J, Theys T, de Wit J, Vanderhaeghen P. LRRC37B is a human modifier of voltage-gated sodium channels and axon excitability in cortical neurons. Cell 2023; 186:5766-5783.e25. [PMID: 38134874 PMCID: PMC10754148 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.11.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
The enhanced cognitive abilities characterizing the human species result from specialized features of neurons and circuits. Here, we report that the hominid-specific gene LRRC37B encodes a receptor expressed in human cortical pyramidal neurons (CPNs) and selectively localized to the axon initial segment (AIS), the subcellular compartment triggering action potentials. Ectopic expression of LRRC37B in mouse CPNs in vivo leads to reduced intrinsic excitability, a distinctive feature of some classes of human CPNs. Molecularly, LRRC37B binds to the secreted ligand FGF13A and to the voltage-gated sodium channel (Nav) β-subunit SCN1B. LRRC37B concentrates inhibitory effects of FGF13A on Nav channel function, thereby reducing excitability, specifically at the AIS level. Electrophysiological recordings in adult human cortical slices reveal lower neuronal excitability in human CPNs expressing LRRC37B. LRRC37B thus acts as a species-specific modifier of human neuron excitability, linking human genome and cell evolution, with important implications for human brain function and diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Baptiste Libé-Philippot
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; KUL, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Amélie Lejeune
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; KUL, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Keimpe Wierda
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Electrophysiology Unit, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nikolaos Louros
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KUL, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Emir Erkol
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; KUL, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ine Vlaeminck
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Electrophysiology Unit, VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sofie Beckers
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; KUL, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Vaiva Gaspariunaite
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; KUL, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Angéline Bilheu
- Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (IRIBHM), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Katerina Konstantoulea
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KUL, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hajnalka Nyitrai
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; KUL, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Matthias De Vleeschouwer
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KUL, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kristel M Vennekens
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; KUL, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Niels Vidal
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; KUL, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Thomas W Bird
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand
| | - Daniela C Soto
- Genome Center, MIND Institute, and Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Tom Jaspers
- Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maarten Dewilde
- Laboratory for Therapeutic and Diagnostic Antibodies, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Megan Y Dennis
- Genome Center, MIND Institute, and Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Frederic Rousseau
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KUL, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Davide Comoletti
- School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand; Child Health Institute of New Jersey, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA
| | - Joost Schymkowitz
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KUL, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tom Theys
- KUL, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Research Group Experimental Neurosurgery and Neuroanatomy, KUL, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joris de Wit
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; KUL, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Pierre Vanderhaeghen
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; KUL, Department of Neurosciences, Leuven Brain Institute, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (IRIBHM), 1070 Brussels, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Mirdass C, Catala M, Bocel M, Nedelec S, Ribes V. Stem cell-derived models of spinal neurulation. Emerg Top Life Sci 2023; 7:423-437. [PMID: 38087891 DOI: 10.1042/etls20230087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Neurulation is a critical step in early embryonic development, giving rise to the neural tube, the primordium of the central nervous system in amniotes. Understanding this complex, multi-scale, multi-tissue morphogenetic process is essential to provide insights into normal development and the etiology of neural tube defects. Innovations in tissue engineering have fostered the generation of pluripotent stem cell-based in vitro models, including organoids, that are emerging as unique tools for delving into neurulation mechanisms, especially in the context of human development. Each model captures specific aspects of neural tube morphogenesis, from epithelialization to neural tissue elongation, folding and cavitation. In particular, the recent models of human and mouse trunk morphogenesis, such as gastruloids, that form a spinal neural plate-like or neural tube-like structure are opening new avenues to study normal and pathological neurulation. Here, we review the morphogenetic events generating the neural tube in the mammalian embryo and questions that remain unanswered. We discuss the advantages and limitations of existing in vitro models of neurulation and possible future technical developments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Camil Mirdass
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, F-75013 Paris, France
- Institut du Fer à Moulin, 75005 Paris, France
- Inserm, UMR-S 1270, 75005 Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, Science and Engineering Faculty, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Martin Catala
- Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (IBPS) - Developmental Biology Laboratory, UMR7622 CNRS, INSERM ERL 1156, Sorbonne Université, 9 Quai Saint-Bernard, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Mikaëlle Bocel
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Stéphane Nedelec
- Institut du Fer à Moulin, 75005 Paris, France
- Inserm, UMR-S 1270, 75005 Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, Science and Engineering Faculty, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Vanessa Ribes
- Université Paris Cité, CNRS, Institut Jacques Monod, F-75013 Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Akula SK, Exposito-Alonso D, Walsh CA. Shaping the brain: The emergence of cortical structure and folding. Dev Cell 2023; 58:2836-2849. [PMID: 38113850 PMCID: PMC10793202 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
The cerebral cortex-the brain's covering and largest region-has increased in size and complexity in humans and supports higher cognitive functions such as language and abstract thinking. There is a growing understanding of the human cerebral cortex, including the diversity and number of cell types that it contains, as well as of the developmental mechanisms that shape cortical structure and organization. In this review, we discuss recent progress in our understanding of molecular and cellular processes, as well as mechanical forces, that regulate the folding of the cerebral cortex. Advances in human genetics, coupled with experimental modeling in gyrencephalic species, have provided insights into the central role of cortical progenitors in the gyrification and evolutionary expansion of the cerebral cortex. These studies are essential for understanding the emergence of structural and functional organization during cortical development and the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders associated with cortical malformations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shyam K Akula
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Allen Discovery Center for Human Brain Evolution, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA
| | - David Exposito-Alonso
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Allen Discovery Center for Human Brain Evolution, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA
| | - Christopher A Walsh
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Allen Discovery Center for Human Brain Evolution, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Feng G, Chen R, Zhao R, Li Y, Ma L, Wang Y, Men W, Gao J, Tan S, Cheng J, He Y, Qin S, Dong Q, Tao S, Shu N. Longitudinal development of the human white matter structural connectome and its association with brain transcriptomic and cellular architecture. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1257. [PMID: 38087047 PMCID: PMC10716168 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05647-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
From childhood to adolescence, the spatiotemporal development pattern of the human brain white matter connectome and its underlying transcriptomic and cellular mechanisms remain largely unknown. With a longitudinal diffusion MRI cohort of 604 participants, we map the developmental trajectory of the white matter connectome from global to regional levels and identify that most brain network properties followed a linear developmental trajectory. Importantly, connectome-transcriptomic analysis reveals that the spatial development pattern of white matter connectome is potentially regulated by the transcriptomic architecture, with positively correlated genes involve in ion transport- and development-related pathways expressed in excitatory and inhibitory neurons, and negatively correlated genes enriches in synapse- and development-related pathways expressed in astrocytes, inhibitory neurons and microglia. Additionally, the macroscale developmental pattern is also associated with myelin content and thicknesses of specific laminas. These findings offer insights into the underlying genetics and neural mechanisms of macroscale white matter connectome development from childhood to adolescence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guozheng Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Rui Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Rui Zhao
- College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Leilei Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Yanpei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Weiwei Men
- Center for MRI Research, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiahong Gao
- Center for MRI Research, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuping Tan
- Beijing Huilongguan Hospital, Peking University Huilongguan Clinical Medical School, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Cheng
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, China
| | - Yong He
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Shaozheng Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Sha Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
| | - Ni Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
- BABRI Centre, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Brain Imaging and Connectomics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Zhang R, Quan H, Wang Y, Luo F. Neurogenesis in primates versus rodents and the value of non-human primate models. Natl Sci Rev 2023; 10:nwad248. [PMID: 38025664 PMCID: PMC10659238 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwad248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurogenesis, the process of generating neurons from neural stem cells, occurs during both embryonic and adult stages, with each stage possessing distinct characteristics. Dysfunction in either stage can disrupt normal neural development, impair cognitive functions, and lead to various neurological disorders. Recent technological advancements in single-cell multiomics and gene-editing have facilitated investigations into primate neurogenesis. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of neurogenesis across rodents, non-human primates, and humans, covering embryonic development to adulthood and focusing on the conservation and diversity among species. While non-human primates, especially monkeys, serve as valuable models with closer neural resemblance to humans, we highlight the potential impacts and limitations of non-human primate models on both physiological and pathological neurogenesis research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Runrui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research; Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Hongxin Quan
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research; Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Yinfeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research; Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Fucheng Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research; Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming 650500, China
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Konopka G, Bhaduri A. Functional genomics and systems biology in human neuroscience. Nature 2023; 623:274-282. [PMID: 37938705 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06686-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Neuroscience research has entered a phase of key discoveries in the realm of neurogenomics owing to strong financial and intellectual support for resource building and tool development. The previous challenge of tissue heterogeneity has been met with the application of techniques that can profile individual cells at scale. Moreover, the ability to perturb genes, gene regulatory elements and neuronal activity in a cell-type-specific manner has been integrated with gene expression studies to uncover the functional underpinnings of the genome at a systems level. Although these insights have necessarily been grounded in model systems, we now have the opportunity to apply these approaches in humans and in human tissue, thanks to advances in human genetics, brain imaging and tissue collection. We acknowledge that there will probably always be limits to the extent to which we can apply the genomic tools developed in model systems to human neuroscience; however, as we describe in this Perspective, the neuroscience field is now primed with an optimal foundation for tackling this ambitious challenge. The application of systems-level network analyses to these datasets will facilitate a deeper appreciation of human neurogenomics that cannot otherwise be achieved from directly observable phenomena.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Genevieve Konopka
- Department of Neuroscience, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
- Peter O'Donnell Jr Brain Institute, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
| | - Aparna Bhaduri
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Stimpson CD, Smaers JB, Raghanti MA, Phillips KA, Jacobs B, Hopkins WD, Hof PR, Sherwood CC. Evolutionary scaling and cognitive correlates of primate frontal cortex microstructure. Brain Struct Funct 2023:10.1007/s00429-023-02719-7. [PMID: 37889302 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-023-02719-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Investigating evolutionary changes in frontal cortex microstructure is crucial to understanding how modifications of neuron and axon distributions contribute to phylogenetic variation in cognition. In the present study, we characterized microstructural components of dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, and primary motor cortex from 14 primate species using measurements of neuropil fraction and immunohistochemical markers for fast-spiking inhibitory interneurons, large pyramidal projection neuron subtypes, serotonergic innervation, and dopaminergic innervation. Results revealed that the rate of evolutionary change was similar across these microstructural variables, except for neuropil fraction, which evolves more slowly and displays the strongest correlation with brain size. We also found that neuropil fraction in orbitofrontal cortex layers V-VI was associated with cross-species variation in performance on experimental tasks that measure self-control. These findings provide insight into the evolutionary reorganization of the primate frontal cortex in relation to brain size scaling and its association with cognitive processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cheryl D Stimpson
- Department of Anthropology and Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
- DoD/USU Brain Tissue Repository and Neuropathology Program, Uniformed Services University (USU), Bethesda, MD, USA
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jeroen B Smaers
- Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Mary Ann Raghanti
- Department of Anthropology and School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH, USA
| | - Kimberley A Phillips
- Department of Psychology, Trinity University, San Antonio, TX, USA
- Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Bob Jacobs
- Department of Psychology, Laboratory of Quantitative Neuromorphology, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO, USA
| | - William D Hopkins
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Michale E Keeling Center for Comparative Medicine and Research, M D Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop, TX, USA
| | - Patrick R Hof
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience, Center for Discovery and Innovation, and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chet C Sherwood
- Department of Anthropology and Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Ziak J, Dorskind J, Trigg B, Sudarsanam S, Hand R, Kolodkin AL. MAP1B Regulates Cortical Neuron Interstitial Axon Branching Through the Tubulin Tyrosination Cycle. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.02.560024. [PMID: 37873083 PMCID: PMC10592918 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.02.560024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Regulation of directed axon guidance and branching during development is essential for the generation of neuronal networks. However, the molecular mechanisms that underlie interstitial axon branching in the mammalian brain remain unresolved. Here, we investigate interstitial axon branching in vivo using an approach for precise labeling of layer 2/3 callosal projection neurons (CPNs), allowing for quantitative analysis of axonal morphology at high acuity and also manipulation of gene expression in well-defined temporal windows. We find that the GSK3β serine/threonine kinase promotes interstitial axon branching in layer 2/3 CPNs by releasing MAP1B-mediated inhibition of axon branching. Further, we find that the tubulin tyrosination cycle is a key downstream component of GSK3β/MAP1B signaling. We propose that MAP1B functions as a brake on axon branching that can be released by GSK3β activation, regulating the tubulin code and thereby playing an integral role in sculpting cortical neuron axon morphology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Ziak
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 725 North Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205
| | - Joelle Dorskind
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 725 North Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Boston, MA
| | - Brian Trigg
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 725 North Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205
| | - Sriram Sudarsanam
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 725 North Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205
| | - Randal Hand
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 725 North Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205
- Prilenia Therapeutics, Boston, MA
| | - Alex L. Kolodkin
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins Kavli Neuroscience Discovery Institute, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 725 North Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD 21205
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Wang B, Starr AL, Fraser HB. Cell type-specific cis-regulatory divergence in gene expression and chromatin accessibility revealed by human-chimpanzee hybrid cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.22.541747. [PMID: 37292820 PMCID: PMC10245923 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.22.541747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Although gene expression divergence has long been postulated to be the primary driver of human evolution, identifying the genes and genetic variants underlying uniquely human traits has proven to be quite challenging. Theory suggests that cell type-specific cis-regulatory variants may fuel evolutionary adaptation due to the specificity of their effects. These variants can precisely tune the expression of a single gene in a single cell type, avoiding the potentially deleterious consequences of trans-acting changes and non-cell type-specific changes that can impact many genes and cell types, respectively. It has recently become possible to quantify human-specific cis-acting regulatory divergence by measuring allele-specific expression in human-chimpanzee hybrid cells-the product of fusing induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells of each species in vitro. However, these cis-regulatory changes have only been explored in a limited number of cell types. Here, we quantify human-chimpanzee cis-regulatory divergence in gene expression and chromatin accessibility across six cell types, enabling the identification of highly cell type-specific cis-regulatory changes. We find that cell type-specific genes and regulatory elements evolve faster than those shared across cell types, suggesting an important role for genes with cell type-specific expression in human evolution. Furthermore, we identify several instances of lineage-specific natural selection that may have played key roles in specific cell types, such as coordinated changes in the cis-regulation of dozens of genes involved in neuronal firing in motor neurons. Finally, using novel metrics and a machine learning model, we identify genetic variants that likely alter chromatin accessibility and transcription factor binding, leading to neuron-specific changes in the expression of the neurodevelopmentally important genes FABP7 and GAD1. Overall, our results demonstrate that integrative analysis of cis-regulatory divergence in chromatin accessibility and gene expression across cell types is a promising approach to identify the specific genes and genetic variants that make us human.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ban Wang
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Wang J, Ma S, Yu P, He X. Evolution of Human Brain Left-Right Asymmetry: Old Genes with New Functions. Mol Biol Evol 2023; 40:msad181. [PMID: 37561991 PMCID: PMC10473864 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msad181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The human brain is generally anatomically symmetrical, boasting mirror-like brain regions in the left and right hemispheres. Despite this symmetry, fine-scale structural asymmetries are prevalent and are believed to be responsible for distinct functional divisions within the brain. Prior studies propose that these asymmetric structures are predominantly primate specific or even unique to humans, suggesting that the genes contributing to the structural asymmetry of the human brain might have evolved recently. In our study, we identified approximately 1,500 traits associated with human brain asymmetry by collecting paired brain magnetic resonance imaging features from the UK Biobank. Each trait is measured in a specific region of one hemisphere and mirrored in the corresponding region of the other hemisphere. Conducting genome-wide association studies on these traits, we identified over 1,000 quantitative trait loci. Around these index single nucleotide polymorphisms, we found approximately 200 genes that are enriched in brain-related Gene Ontology terms and are predominantly upregulated in brain tissues. Interestingly, most of these genes are evolutionarily old, originating just prior to the emergence of Bilateria (bilaterally symmetrical animals) and Euteleostomi (bony vertebrates with a brain), at a significantly higher ratio than expected. Further analyses of these genes reveal a brain-specific upregulation in humans relative to other mammalian species. This suggests that the structural asymmetry of the human brain has been shaped by evolutionarily ancient genes that have assumed new functions over time.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianguo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Sidi Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Peijie Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Soutschek M, Schratt G. Non-coding RNA in the wiring and remodeling of neural circuits. Neuron 2023:S0896-6273(23)00341-0. [PMID: 37230080 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.04.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The brain constantly adapts to changes in the environment, a capability that underlies memory and behavior. Long-term adaptations require the remodeling of neural circuits that are mediated by activity-dependent alterations in gene expression. Over the last two decades, it has been shown that the expression of protein-coding genes is significantly regulated by a complex layer of non-coding RNA (ncRNA) interactions. The aim of this review is to summarize recent discoveries regarding the functional involvement of ncRNAs during different stages of neural circuit development, activity-dependent circuit remodeling, and circuit maladapations underlying neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. In addition to the intensively studied microRNA (miRNA) family, we focus on more recently added ncRNA classes, such as long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), and discuss the complex regulatory interactions between these different RNAs. We conclude by discussing the potential relevance of ncRNAs for cell-type and -state-specific regulation in the context of memory formation, the evolution of human cognitive abilities, and the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic tools in brain disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Soutschek
- Laboratory of Systems Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Science and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Gerhard Schratt
- Laboratory of Systems Neuroscience, Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Health Science and Technology, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Ibrahim GM, Taylor MD. How thought itself can drive tumour growth. Nature 2023; 617:469-471. [PMID: 37138055 DOI: 10.1038/d41586-023-01387-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
|
32
|
Boulasiki P, Tan XW, Spinelli M, Riccio A. The NuRD Complex in Neurodevelopment and Disease: A Case of Sliding Doors. Cells 2023; 12:cells12081179. [PMID: 37190088 DOI: 10.3390/cells12081179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The Nucleosome Remodelling and Deacetylase (NuRD) complex represents one of the major chromatin remodelling complexes in mammalian cells, uniquely coupling the ability to "open" the chromatin by inducing nucleosome sliding with histone deacetylase activity. At the core of the NuRD complex are a family of ATPases named CHDs that utilise the energy produced by the hydrolysis of the ATP to induce chromatin structural changes. Recent studies have highlighted the prominent role played by the NuRD in regulating gene expression during brain development and in maintaining neuronal circuitry in the adult cerebellum. Importantly, components of the NuRD complex have been found to carry mutations that profoundly affect neurological and cognitive development in humans. Here, we discuss recent literature concerning the molecular structure of NuRD complexes and how the subunit composition and numerous permutations greatly determine their functions in the nervous system. We will also discuss the role of the CHD family members in an array of neurodevelopmental disorders. Special emphasis will be given to the mechanisms that regulate the NuRD complex composition and assembly in the cortex and how subtle mutations may result in profound defects of brain development and the adult nervous system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paraskevi Boulasiki
- UCL Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Xiao Wei Tan
- UCL Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Matteo Spinelli
- UCL Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
- Neuroscience Department, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Riccio
- UCL Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Petanjek Z, Banovac I, Sedmak D, Hladnik A. Dendritic Spines: Synaptogenesis and Synaptic Pruning for the Developmental Organization of Brain Circuits. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 34:143-221. [PMID: 37962796 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-36159-3_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Synaptic overproduction and elimination is a regular developmental event in the mammalian brain. In the cerebral cortex, synaptic overproduction is almost exclusively correlated with glutamatergic synapses located on dendritic spines. Therefore, analysis of changes in spine density on different parts of the dendritic tree in identified classes of principal neurons could provide insight into developmental reorganization of specific microcircuits.The activity-dependent stabilization and selective elimination of the initially overproduced synapses is a major mechanism for generating diversity of neural connections beyond their genetic determination. The largest number of overproduced synapses was found in the monkey and human cerebral cortex. The highest (exceeding adult values by two- to threefold) and most protracted overproduction (up to third decade of life) was described for associative layer IIIC pyramidal neurons in the human dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.Therefore, the highest proportion and extraordinarily extended phase of synaptic spine overproduction is a hallmark of neural circuitry in human higher-order associative areas. This indicates that microcircuits processing the most complex human cognitive functions have the highest level of developmental plasticity. This finding is the backbone for understanding the effect of environmental impact on the development of the most complex, human-specific cognitive and emotional capacities, and on the late onset of human-specific neuropsychiatric disorders, such as autism and schizophrenia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zdravko Petanjek
- Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
- Center of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Ivan Banovac
- Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- Center of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Dora Sedmak
- Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- Center of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ana Hladnik
- Department of Anatomy and Clinical Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Neuroscience, Croatian Institute for Brain Research, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
- Center of Excellence for Basic, Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| |
Collapse
|