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Transcription factor control of neuron migration during brain development - Clayton

Published: 24 June 2009

How cell migration is co-ordinately regulated with other aspects of neuron production is not well understood.

We show the proneural protein Neurogenin2 (Neurog2), which controls neurogenesis in the embryonic cerebral cortex, directly induces the expression of the GTP-binding protein Rnd2 in newborn cortical neurons before they initiate migration. Rnd2 silencing leads to a defect in radial migration of cortical neurons similar to that observed when the Neurog2 gene is deleted. Restoring Rnd2 expression in Neurog2-mutant neurons is sufficient to rescue their ability to migrate. Our results identify Rnd2 as a novel essential regulator of neuronal migration in the cerebral cortex and demonstrate Rnd2 to be a major effector of Neurog2 function in the promotion of migration. Thus, the process of cell migration by newborn cortical neurons appears to be initiated by a remarkably simple pathway that involves activation of a downstream gene by a proneural transcription factor.

Time: 12.30 pm
Date: Thursday 9 July, 2009
Venue: G19, Building 75, STRIP Building, Clayton campus

For further information contact:
Name: Professor Peter Currie
Telephone: +61 3 9902 9602
Email: peter.currie@armi.monash.edu.au