Reorganizing the brain's neocortex layout
In a groundbreaking study published in Science Advances in July 2021, researchers led by Dr. Benedikt Berninger have uncovered crucial insights into the role of Zeb2 in regulating key processes during neocortical development. The study, titled "Adhesion dynamics in the neocortex determine the start of migration and the post-migratory orientation of neurons," can be found under the DOI 10.1126/sciadv.abf1973.
The neocortex, the outer region of the brain responsible for cognitive functions such as language, decision-making, and voluntary movement, forms a highly organized structure with neurons stratified horizontally into six layers. For the neocortex to develop correctly, neurons must migrate from the ventricular zone to their final destination.
The team's research findings provide new insights into the cellular mechanisms that regulate neuron migration and orientation in the neocortex. They identified Zeb2 as a regulatory protein responsible for controlling two key processes: the timely migration of neurons to their destinations and their subsequent reorientation upon arrival.
Zeb2 controls the production of surface proteins that regulate adhesion, ensuring that neurons can detach from their original location and reorient themselves upon arrival in the cerebral cortex. The study's findings suggest that adhesion dynamics play a crucial role in the start of migration and the post-migratory orientation of neurons in the neocortex.
Mutations affecting Zeb2 play an important role in a rare genetic disorder called Mowat-Wilson syndrome, which is associated with developmental and functional abnormalities affecting both the brain and the nerves supplying certain organs. The study's findings may have implications for understanding the cellular defects that underlie neurological disorders, including neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism and schizophrenia.
The researchers are currently conducting further research to determine the role played by interactions between nerve cells and the surrounding extracellular matrix in neurological disorders. The team's research, conducted by Epifanova E et al., is part of ongoing efforts to shed light on the complex processes involved in neocortical development and the disorders that can result from disruptions in these processes.
