Control of neuronal excitation-inhibition balance by BMP-SMAD1 signalling

Throughout life, neuronal networks in the mammalian neocortex maintain a balance of excitation and inhibition, which is essential for neuronal computation1,2. Deviations from a balanced state have been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders, and severe disruptions result in epilepsy3-5. To maintain balance, neuronal microcircuits composed of excitatory and inhibitory neurons sense alterations in neural activity and adjust neuronal connectivity and function. Here we identify a signalling pathway in the adult mouse neocortex that is activated in response to increased neuronal network activity. Overactivation of excitatory neurons is signalled to the network through an increase in the levels of BMP2, a growth factor that is well known for its role as a morphogen in embryonic development. BMP2 acts on parvalbumin-expressing (PV) interneurons through the transcription factor SMAD1, which controls an array of glutamatergic synapse proteins and components of perineuronal nets. PV-interneuron-specific disruption of BMP2-SMAD1 signalling is accompanied by a loss of glutamatergic innervation in PV cells, underdeveloped perineuronal nets and decreased excitability. Ultimately, this impairment of the functional recruitment of PV interneurons disrupts the cortical excitation-inhibition balance, with mice exhibiting spontaneous epileptic seizures. Our findings suggest that developmental morphogen signalling is repurposed to stabilize cortical networks in the adult mammalian brain.

Parallel pathways from motor and somatosensory cortex for controlling whisker movements in mice

Mice can gather tactile sensory information by actively moving their whiskers to palpate objects in their immediate surroundings. Whisker sensory perception therefore requires integration of sensory and motor information, which occurs prominently in the neocortex. The signalling pathways from the neocortex for controlling whisker movements are currently poorly understood in mice. Here, we delineate two pathways, one originating from primary whisker somatosensory cortex (wS1) and the other from whisker motor cortex (wM1), that control qualitatively distinct movements of contralateral whiskers. Optogenetic stimulation of wS1 drove retraction of contralateral whiskers while stimulation of wM1 drove rhythmic whisker protraction. To map brainstem pathways connecting these cortical areas to whisker motor neurons, we used a combination of anterograde tracing using adenoassociated virus injected into neocortex and retrograde tracing using monosynaptic rabies virus injected into whisker muscles. Our data are consistent with wS1 driving whisker retraction by exciting glutamatergic premotor neurons in the rostral spinal trigeminal interpolaris nucleus, which in turn activate the motor neurons innervating the extrinsic retractor muscle nasolabialis. The rhythmic whisker protraction evoked by wM1 stimulation might be driven by excitation of excitatory and inhibitory premotor neurons in the brainstem reticular formation innervating both intrinsic and extrinsic muscles. Our data therefore begin to unravel the neuronal circuits linking the neocortex to whisker motor neurons.

Unveiling the role of Dps in the organization of mycobacterial nucleoid

In order to preserve genetic information in stress conditions, bacterial DNA is organized into higher order nucleoid structure. In this paper, with the help of Atomic Force Microscopy, we show the different structural changes in mycobacterial nucleoid at different points of growth in the presence of different concentrations of glucose in the medium. We also observe that in Mycobacterium smegmatis, two different Dps proteins (Dps1 and Dps2) promote two types of nucleoid organizations. At the late stationary phase, under low glucose availability, Dps1 binds to DNA to form a very stable toroid structure. On the other hand, under the same condition, Dps2-DNA complex forms an incompletely condensed toroid and finally forms a further stable coral reef structure in the presence of RNA. This coral reef structure is stable in high concentration of bivalent ion like Mg²⁺.