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Trainor Lab characterizes gene essential for prenatal development of nervous system
February 04, 2008The Stowers Institute's Trainor Lab has demonstrated the role of a gene important to the embryonic development of the nervous system, a process that requires coordination of differentiation of immature neural cells with the cycle of cell division that increases their numbers. Until now, the mechanisms regulating these distinct cellular activities have been poorly understood.
The findings will be published in the Feb. 15 issue of Development.
In this work, the team used gain- and loss-of-function mutations in mice to isolate novel roles for the mouse Cux2 gene in regulating neurogenesis. They established that Cux2 directs neuroblast development, neuronal differentiation, and cell-fate determination in the spinal cord by coupling progression through the cycle of cell division with differentiation of neural cells by direct activation of two key neurogenic determinants, Neurod and p27Kipl.
"We were excited to uncover, for the first time, multiple functional roles for a Cux-like homeodomain transcription factor in regulating key aspects of spinal cord neurogenesis," said Angelo Iulianella, Ph.D., Senior Research Associate and first author on the publication. "The demonstration that Cux2 integrates cell-cycle progression with neural progenitor differentiation and cell-fate determination provides a much clearer picture of the complex process of neurogenesis."
"The impact of cell cycle length on the formation of interneurons versus motoneurons was a surprising finding," said Paul Trainor, Ph.D., Associate Investigator, and senior author on the publication. "Ongoing work involves global proteomic analyses aimed at identifying the complete set of Cux2-interacting partners. We believe these efforts will be essential to understanding how Cux2 elicits its multiple functions during neurogenesis."
Further analysis of Cux2 will make it possible to extend these findings not only to spinal cord development, but also to the mammalian cortex, where Cux genes demarcate specific upper layers of cortical neurons and may have played a role in the expansion and increased complexity of the cortex during evolution.
Stowers Institute for Medical Research
"We were excited to uncover, for the first time, multiple functional roles for a Cux-like homeodomain transcription factor in regulating key aspects of spinal cord neurogenesis," said Angelo Iulianella, Ph.D., Senior Research Associate and first author on the publication. "The demonstration that Cux2 integrates cell-cycle progression with neural progenitor differentiation and cell-fate determination provides a much clearer picture of the complex process of neurogenesis."
"The impact of cell cycle length on the formation of interneurons versus motoneurons was a surprising finding," said Paul Trainor, Ph.D., Associate Investigator, and senior author on the publication. "Ongoing work involves global proteomic analyses aimed at identifying the complete set of Cux2-interacting partners. We believe these efforts will be essential to understanding how Cux2 elicits its multiple functions during neurogenesis."
Further analysis of Cux2 will make it possible to extend these findings not only to spinal cord development, but also to the mammalian cortex, where Cux genes demarcate specific upper layers of cortical neurons and may have played a role in the expansion and increased complexity of the cortex during evolution.
Stowers Institute for Medical Research
Neurogenesis Current Events and Neurogenesis News RSSAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis may involve a form of sudden, rapid aging of the immune system
Premature aging of the immune system appears to play a role in the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig's disease, according to research scientists from the Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, and Sheba Medical Center in Israel.
Life and death in the living brain
Like clockwork, brain regions in many songbird species expand and shrink seasonally in response to hormones. Now, for the first time, University of Washington neurobiologists have interrupted this natural "annual remodeling" of the brain and have shown that there is a direct link between the death of old neurons and their replacement by newly born ones in a living vertebrate.
Newborn brain cells show the way
Although the fact that we generate new brain cells throughout life is no longer disputed, their purpose has been the topic of much debate.
Gene activity reveals dynamic stroma microenvironment in prostate cancer
As stroma - the supportive framework of the prostate gland - react to prostate cancer, changes in the expression of genes occur that induce the formation of new structures such as blood vessels, nerves and parts of nerves.
New mouse model of depression/anxiety enhances understanding of antidepressant drugs
A recent study finds that the antidepressant effects of drugs like Prozac involve both neurogenesis-dependent and -independent mechanisms, a finding that may lead to development of better treatments for depression and anxiety.
Brain chemical reduces anxiety, increases survival of new cells
New research on a brain chemical involved in development sheds light on why some individuals may be predisposed to anxiety.
CCNY, CSHL biologists find birdsong of isolates reverts to norm over several generations
In an experiment that points to a role for genetics in the development of culture, biologists at The City College of New York (CCNY) and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) have discovered that zebra finches raised in isolation will, over several generations, produce a song similar to that sung by the species in the wild.
Growth of new brain cells requires 'epigenetic' switch
New cells are born every day in the brain's hippocampus, but what controls this birth has remained a mystery. Reporting in the January 1 issue of Science, neuroscientists at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine have discovered that the birth of new cells, which depends on brain activity, also depends on a protein that is involved in changing epigenetic marks in the cell's genetic material.
Prostate cancer spurs new nerves
Prostate cancer - and perhaps other cancers - promotes the growth of new nerves and the branching axons that carry their messages, a finding associated with more aggressive tumors, said researchers from Baylor College of Medicine in the first report of the phenomenon that appears today in the journal Clinical Cancer Research.
Memory mission explores new territory in neuroscience
Astrophysicists peer into the far corners of deep space for dark matter, but for neuroscientists at the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) exploring the unknown is much closer to home.
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NeuroGenesis [CD on Demand] by Joseph Bennette Want to clear out old programming and open up to a new life? Then you'll just love these special audio hypnosis imagery exercises by Joseph Bennette. The hypnotic effect of these imageries will help you relax into positive change. Release the old with Clearings. Turn on inner brain chemistry to generate new neurons - and create a new life experience. Imagine what you might experience as you listen to these powerful hypnotic imagery exercises that use cutting edge audio technologies with the soothing voice of Joseph Bennette. Imagery exercises are different than simple hypnosis or relaxation visualizations. Metaphors speak to the deepest parts of your consciousness to affect change, encourage happiness, and improve attitude and overall well-being. These are... |
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