Neural bHLH Genes Control the Neuronal versus Glial Fate Decision in Cortical Progenitors

• Published in: Neuron (Cambridge, Mass.) Vol. 29; no. 2; pp. 401 - 413
• Main Authors: Nieto, Marta, Schuurmans, Carol, Britz, Olivier, Guillemot, François
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.02.2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors; Cell Differentiation - genetics; Cerebral Cortex - abnormalities; Cerebral Cortex - embryology; DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; DNA-Binding Proteins - physiology; Genetics; Lac Operon - physiology; Life Sciences; Mash1 gene; Mice; Mice, Mutant Strains; Nerve Tissue Proteins - genetics; Nerve Tissue Proteins - physiology; neurogenin 2; Neurogenin2 gene; Neuroglia - cytology; Neuroglia - metabolism; Neurons - cytology; Neurons - metabolism; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Stem Cells - metabolism; Transcription Factors - genetics; Transcription Factors - physiology
• ISSN: 0896-6273; 1097-4199
• DOI: 10.1016/S0896-6273(01)00214-8

We have addressed the role of the proneural bHLH genes Neurogenin2 ( Ngn2) and Mash1 in the selection of neuronal and glial fates by neural stem cells. We show that mice mutant for both genes present severe defects in development of the cerebral cortex, including a reduction of neurogenesis and a premature and excessive generation of astrocytic precursors. An analysis of wild-type and mutant cortical progenitors in culture showed that a large fraction of Ngn2; Mash1 double-mutant progenitors failed to adopt a neuronal fate, instead remaining pluripotent or entering an astrocytic differentiation pathway. Together, these results demonstrate that proneural genes are involved in lineage restriction of cortical progenitors, promoting the acquisition of the neuronal fate and inhibiting the astrocytic fate.