Genome-wide target analysis of NEUROD2 provides new insights into regulation of cortical projection neuron migration and differentiation

BMC Genomics

Research Article

Gokhan Guner¹  Gizem Guzelsoy¹  Efil Bayam¹  Gulayse Ince-Dunn¹  Gulcan Semra Sahin²  Alkan Kabakcioglu³ 

[1] Molecular Biology and Genetics Department, Koç University, Rumeli Feneri Yolu, 34450, Istanbul, Turkey;Molecular Biology and Genetics Department, Koç University, Rumeli Feneri Yolu, 34450, Istanbul, Turkey;Present Address: Neuroscience Department, Washington State University, 99164, Pullman, WA, USA;Physics Department, Koç University, Rumeli Feneri Yolu, 34450, Istanbul, Turkey;

关键词: NEUROD2;    Cortical projection neuron;    Cortical layers;    Radial migration;    Axon guidance;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12864-015-1882-9

 received in 2015-04-17, accepted in 2015-08-26,  发布年份 2015

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundCellular differentiation programs are controlled, to a large extent, by the combinatorial functioning of specific transcription factors. Cortical projection neurons constitute the major excitatory neuron population within the cortex and mediate long distance communication between the cortex and other brain regions. Our understanding of effector transcription factors and their downstream transcriptional programs that direct the differentiation process of cortical projection neurons is far from complete.ResultsIn this study, we carried out a ChIP-Seq (chromatin-immunoprecipitation and sequencing) analysis of NEUROD2, an effector transcription factor expressed in lineages of cortical projection neurons during the peak of cortical excitatory neurogenesis. Our results suggest that during cortical development NEUROD2 targets key genes that are required for Reelin signaling, a major pathway that regulates the migration of neurons from germinal zones to their final layers of residence within the cortex. We also find that NEUROD2 binds to a large set of genes with functions in layer-specific differentiation and in axonal pathfinding of cortical projection neurons.ConclusionsOur analysis of in vivo NEUROD2 target genes offers mechanistic insight into signaling pathways that regulate neuronal migration and axon guidance and identifies genes that are likely to be required for proper cortical development.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Bayam et al. 2015

【 图 表 】

Fig. 1