Reelin信号通路在大脑新皮质形成中的作用

人类大脑皮层发育过程中,大量神经细胞从靠近脑室的增殖区产生并向软脑膜方向迁移,最终形成与人类许多高级功能相关的6层大脑新皮质结构,Reelin-Dab1信号通路在神经细胞迁移中起到了关键的作用。Reelin结合于迁移细胞膜上的极低密度脂蛋白受体(very lowlipoprotein recep-tor,VLDLR)和载脂蛋白E受体2(apolipoprotein E receptor2,ApoER2),磷酸化胞浆内的衔接蛋白disabled1(Dab1),继而与下游信号分子如细胞骨架蛋白等相互作用,指导皮层神经元的正确迁移和定位。本篇综述讨论了Reelin-Dab1信号通路在人类新皮质形成过程中的作用及近几年的研究新进展。     

《细胞》：一个基因拷贝促进人类进化

在这篇文章中,研究人员发现一个大脑发育基因的额外拷贝能促进成熟神经细胞迁移到更远部位,以及发展更多连接。而且令人惊讶的是,这个额外的拷贝并没有增加原有基因：SROAP2的功能,这个SROAP2基因属于srGAP家族,能通过F-BAR结构域介导细胞膜形态的变化。从而对神经元的形态发生和迁移产生影响。     

我国科学家在Cell上发表"神经细胞极性原理"论文

脑是最奇妙的信息加工和传导机构。脑神经传导信息必须是有次序的,有序的信息传导依赖神经细胞的特殊结构。一个神经细胞通常有两种纤维：树突用来接收信号,轴突用来发放信号。神经细胞的基本极性在于树突和轴突的差别。如果没有这个基本极性,神经信息的传导就会乱套。那么这个重要的极性是如何形成的呢?中国科学工作者们在分子水平研究了确定神经细胞极性的原理。     

ldlD-14细胞表达NCAM并控制其N-聚糖合成的细胞模型的建立

神经细胞黏附分子(Neural cell adhesion molecule,NCAM)是一类表达于神经元、胶质细胞、骨骼细胞以及自然杀伤细胞表面的糖蛋白。NCAM在细胞-细胞黏附及神经细胞迁移等过程中起着重要作用,也是用来研究多聚唾液酸(Polysialic acid,PSA)的模式蛋白。将来源于小鼠乳腺上皮细胞NMuMG中的NCAM基因克隆到真核表达载体pcDNA3.1(+),转染至中国仓鼠卵巢细胞突变株ldlD-14细胞中,通过抗生素G418筛选及蛋白质印迹法检测,得到过表达NCAM的永久转染细胞株。利用ldlD-14细胞的特性,通过在无血清的基本培养基中添加半乳糖与否可以轻易操纵NCAM分子上糖链的修饰,为后期研究糖基化对NCAM分子功能的影响提供工作基础。     

细胞的“新细胞器”——迁移体

迁移体（migrasome）是俞立教授于2015年报道的新细胞器。迁移体是细胞迁移过程中尾部产生的收缩丝的尖端或交叉点产生出的膜性细胞器。细胞产生迁移体的过程称为迁移性胞吐（migracytosis）,介导细胞内物质的释放和细胞间远距离通讯,在斑马鱼胚胎发育及器官形成中具有重要作用。本篇综述总结了目前有关迁移体的研究进展,包括早期迁移体的发现过程,TSPAN4和胆固醇形成的宏结构域,整合素(integrin)与细胞外基质的相互作用以及特异性是迁移体发生的核心分子机制、迁移体研究的第一个活体动物模型以及迁移体具有和潜在的生理意义、血清中迁移体的研究。本篇综述还归纳了当前建立的迁移体研究方法和工具,包括迁移体纯化的方法、迁移体的鉴定方法、迁移体的分子标志物、迁移体的染料标记方法和抑制迁移体发生的小分子抑制剂等相关研究进展,为迁移体领域的研究奠定工具基础和树立标准。本综述还对迁移体这个新兴领域中的重要问题和研究方向进行展望,期待更多其他领域的科学家投入迁移体领域的研究中。     

细胞黏附和突触发生

突触是神经网络中神经细胞间相互连接的基本工作单位。突触的分子构建是一个引人入胜的问题,数十年来一直吸引着科学家们的注意。冯德培和许多其他科学家早期在神经肌肉接头领域做出了开创性的研究工作。至今,神经肌肉接头仍是一个杰出的突触标本,为我们研究中枢神经系统的突触形成铺平了道路。近期的研究又有新的亮点,发现一组细胞黏附分子具有很强的突触发生作用,使中枢突触形成的分子机制更加明朗。本文综述了这些表达在非神经细胞里能引起中枢突触形成的细胞黏附分子的功能与特性。     

ROBO4 与缺血性脑血管病相关的研究进展

Roundabout(Robo)蛋白是神经轴突导向分子家族Slit蛋白的单次跨膜受体,属于一种神经细胞粘附分子。Robo蛋白在神经系统已被确认具有重要轴突导向功能。近年来研究发现,血管新生的内皮细胞表面只特异性地表达Robo4,且Robo4对内皮细胞迁移、病理性血管生成和血管完整性都具有调节作用。缺血性脑血管病是人类致残甚至死亡的主要疾病之一,由于短暂或持续的脑血流减少而造成脑细胞损伤,因此,恢复脑血流、促进血管再生对脑功能恢复至关重要。Robo4对血管方面的作用为我们进一步研究及了解其在血管生成中的机制提供重要依据,也为缺血性脑血管病的治疗提供新的发展方向。     

Semaphorins在神经发育及突触可塑性中的作用

在神经发育过程中Semaphorins为轴突导向和神经细胞的迁移提供导向信息。在成年脑中,这些导向分子通过抑制自发的或异常的轴突生长来维持已建立的神经连接,并参与突触可塑性,以及中枢神经受损后抑制神经再生与神经细胞的死亡。本文主要介绍Semaphorins在神经发育及突触可塑性中的作用。     

多肽PrP106—126对培养神经细胞朊蛋白基因表达的影响

神经细胞是传染性海绵状脑病（transmissible spongiform encephalopathies,TSEs）的重要靶细胞,PrP106-126是研究TSEs致病机理的理想工具,对PrP106-126作用的培养神经细胞模型进行研究,有利于了解朊蛋白的功能和探讨TSEs的分子致病机制。本研究利用PrP106-126构建了大脑皮质和小脑颗粒神经元作用模型,对神经细胞的存活和朊蛋白基因的表达进行了研究。结果表明：PrP106-126作用于培养神经细胞导致其存活率的显著下降;大脑皮质神经元经PrP106-126处理后,与SCR处理组和对照组相比,基因表达的量明显下降,处理后的小脑颗粒神经元也有类似的情况出现,两者之间下降的幅度和时间不同。我们的研究结果为研究朊蛋白在TSEs发生中的作用和深入了解TSE的分子致病机制提供了基础数据。     

神经细胞粘连分子L1胞外域段对小鼠原代培养神经元的影响及其脑特异性表达转基因小鼠的构建

神经细胞粘连分子L1是神经系统发育过程中介导细胞-细胞相互作用的重要分子。L1能启动轴突的延伸并与神经细胞迁移有关,在神经系统发育和维持方面起重要作用。L1基因突变会导致智力迟钝,痉挛性截瘫,脑积水和其他的发育异常。L1基因突变导致遗传性神经细胞疾病的分子机理目前还不清楚,本研究介绍L1转基因小鼠的构建。在小鼠神经细胞粘连分子L1细胞外区段(L1ECD)cDNA的末端上加一终止密码子后,置于神经系统特异性的pCAMKⅡ启动子之后,构建成L1ECD转基因DNA。为验证构建物的正确性,将其与真核细胞表达载体pCEP4连接并转染C6细胞,实现了L1ECD在C6细胞中的表达,并观察了L1ECD对体外培养的C6细胞和原代培养的神经元的效应。采用显微注射的方法将L1ECD转基因DNA导入小鼠受精卵,产出的仔鼠经尾组织基因组DNA Southern杂交分析和组织RNA Northern杂交分析,证明L1ECD转基因DNA已整合在转基因小鼠基因组内,并呈脑特异性表达。     

Cellular and molecular mechanisms of neuronal migration in neocortical development

The complicated mammalian brain structure arises from accurate movements of neurons from their birthplace to their final locations. Detailed observation of this migration process by various methods revealed that neuronal migration is highly motile and that there are different modes of migration. Moreover, mouse mutants or human disorders that disrupt normal migration have provided significant insights into molecular pathways that control the neuronal migration. Although our knowledge is still fragmentary, it is becoming clear that various molecules are participating in this process. In this review, we outline about the cellular and molecular mechanisms of neuronal migration in the cerebral cortex.     

Small applied electric fields guide migration of hippocampal neurons

Effectively directed neuron migration is critical for development and repair in the central nervous system (CNS). Endogenous electric fields (EFs) are widespread in developing and regenerating tissues and regulate a variety of cell behaviors including directed cell migration. Electrically-directed neuronal migration has not been tested previously and we show that an applied EF directs migration of hippocampal neurons toward the cathode at a field strength of 120 mV/mm, close to the physiological range. Reversal of the field polarity reversed the direction of neuron migration. Neuron migration from an explant also was directed by an applied EF. Mechanistically, EF-guided migration was transduced by activation of the second messenger molecules ROCK (Rho-associated protein kinase) and PI3 kinase (phosphoinositide-3 kinase) since their pharmacological inhibition decreased the directedness and speed of neuron migration. This work demonstrates that rat hippocampal neurons respond to applied EFs with directional migration and raises the possibility that EFs may be used as a cue to direct neuronal migration in novel strategies to repair the CNS.     

Ablation of the 14‐3‐3gamma Protein Results in Neuronal Migration Delay and Morphological Defects in the Developing Cerebral Cortex

14‐3‐3 proteins are ubiquitously‐expressed and multifunctional proteins. There are seven isoforms in mammals with a high level of homology, suggesting potential functional redundancy. We previously found that two of seven isoforms, 14‐3‐3epsilon and 14‐3‐3zeta, are important for brain development, in particular, radial migration of pyramidal neurons in the developing cerebral cortex. In this work, we analyzed the function of another isoform, the protein 14‐3‐3gamma, with respect to neuronal migration in the developing cortex. We found that in utero 14‐3‐3gamma‐deficiency resulted in delays in neuronal migration as well as morphological defects. Migrating neurons deficient in 14‐3‐3gamma displayed a thicker leading process stem, and the basal ends of neurons were not able to reach the boundary between the cortical plate and the marginal zone. Consistent with the results obtained from in utero electroporation, time‐lapse live imaging of brain slices revealed that the ablation of the 14‐3‐3gamma proteins in pyramidal neurons slowed down their migration. In addition, the 14‐3‐3gamma deficient neurons showed morphological abnormalities, including increased multipolar neurons with a thicker leading processes stem during migration. These results indicate that the 14‐3‐3gamma proteins play an important role in radial migration by regulating the morphology of migrating neurons in the cerebral cortex. The findings underscore the pathological phenotypes of brain development associated with the disruption of different 14‐3‐3 proteins and will advance the preclinical data regarding disorders caused by neuronal migration defects. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 76: 600–614, 2016     

Trekking across the brain: the journey of neuronal migration

The correct positioning of neurons during development--achieved through directed migration--is the basis for proper brain function. Several decades of research have yielded a comprehensive map illustrating the temporal and spatial events underlying neurogenesis and neuronal migration during development. The discovery of distinct migration modes and pathways has been accompanied by the identification of a large interwoven molecular network that transmits extracellular signals into the cell. Moreover, recent work has shed new light on how the cytoskeleton is regulated and coordinated at the molecular and cellular level to execute neuronal migration.     

NMDA receptor regulates migration of newly generated neurons in the adult hippocampus via Disrupted-In-Schizophrenia 1 (DISC1)

In the mammalian brain, new neurons are continuously generated throughout life in the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus. Previous studies have established that newborn neurons migrate a short distance to be integrated into a pre-existing neuronal circuit in the hippocampus. How the migration of newborn neurons is governed by extracellular signals, however, has not been fully understood. Here, we report that NMDA receptor (NMDA-R)-mediated signaling is essential for the proper migration and positioning of newborn neurons in the DG. An intraperitoneal injection of the NMDA-R antagonists, memantine, or 3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP) into adult male mice caused the aberrant positioning of newborn neurons, resulting in the overextension of their migration in the DG. Interestingly, we revealed that the administration of NMDA-R antagonists leads to a decrease in the expression of Disrupted-In-Schizophrenia 1 (DISC1), a candidate susceptibility gene for major psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, which is also known as a critical regulator of neuronal migration in the DG. Furthermore, the overextended migration of newborn neurons induced by the NMDA-R antagonists was significantly rescued by exogenous expression of DISC1. Collectively, these results suggest that the NMDA-R signaling pathway governs the migration of newborn neurons via the regulation of DISC1 expression in the DG.     

The aspartic acid of Fyn at 390 is critical for neuronal migration during corticogenesis

The mammalian cerebral cortex develops through the coordinated migration of postmitotic neurons. Fyn, a member of the Src tyrosine kinase family (SFKs), is involved in the neuronal migration and the absence of Fyn leads to abnormal migration. However, the molecular mechanism whereby Fyn acts on migrating neurons has remained unclear. Here, we employed two Fyn mutants (Fyn259T and FynD390A) to investigate the function of Fyn kinase domain in neuronal migration. Using in utero electroporation, we co-transfected the migrating neurons in embryonic cortex with these mutants combined with plasmid expressing GFP. Interestingly, although both of them impaired neuronal migration, FynD390A, rather than Fyn259T, induced remarkable morphology change. Our work provides in vivo and in vitro evidence that the aspartic acid of Fyn at 390 is indispensable for the radial migration, and it is required for precise cooperation with focal adhesion kinase.     

Cdk5 on the brain.

Mammalian brains are highly compartmentalized into groups of functionally specialized neurons. Cell migration and neurite outgrowth must be tightly orchestrated to achieve this level of organization. A small serine/threonine kinase that shows homology to cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) has emerged as an important regulator of neuronal migration. Cdk5, unlike other Cdks, is not regulated by cyclins, and its activity is primarily detected in postmitotic neurons in developing and adult nervous systems. This review describes work indicating that Cdk5 links extracellular signaling pathways and cytoskeletal/membrane systems to direct neuronal migration, axon growth, and possibly neurosecretion. Despite its importance, unchecked Cdk5 activity is toxic to neurons, and may underlie some of the pathologies associated with neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.     

The SH2 domain is crucial for function of Fyn in neuronal migration and cortical lamination

Neurons in the developing brain form the cortical plate (CP) in an inside-out manner, in which the late-born neurons are located more superficially than the early-born neurons. Fyn, a member of the Src family kinases, plays an important role in neuronal migration by binding to many substrates. However, the role of the Src-homology 2 (SH2) domain in function of Fyn in neuronal migration remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that the SH2 domain is essential for the action of Fyn in neuronal migration and cortical lamination. A point mutation in the Fyn SH2 domain (Fyn^R176A) impaired neuronal migration and their final location in the cerebral cortex, by inducing neuronal aggregation and branching. Thus, we provide the first evidence of the Fyn SH2 domain contributing to neuronal migration and neuronal morphogenesis. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(2): 97-102]     

Further studies about Coactosin-like protein-1 affecting the migration of mouse neocortical neurons

During the development of mammalian cortex, late neurons generated by neuronal progenitors bypass earlier-born neurons and migrate to reach upper layers of cortical plate in an inner-to-outer fashion. Filamentous-actin (F-actin) can regulate neuronal migration, whereas Coactosin-like protein 1 (Cotl1) modulates F-actin. Lys 75 and Arg 73 of Cotl1 play an important role in binding F-actin; when they are mutated to Glu, Cotl1 cannot bind F-actin, called as a non-actin-binding mutant (ABM). The Lys 131 site of Cotl1, the 5-Lipoxygenase (5LO) binding site, is spatially close to Lys 75, leading to impact the binding of Cotl1 to F-actin. When Lys 131 is mutated to Ala (K131A), Cotl1 cannot bind to 5LO. We have demonstrated that overexpression of Cotl1 inhibited neuronal migration and increased the length of neuronal leading processes. To further explore cellular and molecular mechanisms of Cotl1’s effect on neuronal migration, we constructed two mutant vectors—Cotl1-ABM and Cotl1-K131A and studied using in utero electroporation and primary neuronal culture technique. Results indicated that in the Cotl1-ABM group, the neuronal migration and length of the leading process both recovered as control neurons at the postnatal day 1 (P1), while in the Cotl1-K131A group, numerous neurons remained in deeper layers of cortical plate or intermediate zone. However, at P7, most Cotl1-K131A transfected neurons reached their destination. Moreover, we found that overexpression of Cotl1 inhibited the proliferation and mitotic activity of NPs. Therefore, These results demonstrated that Cotl1 played an important role in mouse neocortical development.