Neurog1andNeurog2Control Two Waves of Neuronal Differentiation in the Piriform Cortex

• DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0614-13.2014
• Publication Date: 2014-01-08T17:54:10Z
• Authors: Rajiv Dixit; Grey Wilkinson; Gonzalo I. Cancino; Tarek Shaker; Lata Adnani; Saiqun Li; Daniel Dennis; Deborah Kurrasch; Jennifer A. Chan; Eric C. Olson; David R. Kaplan; Céline Zimmer; Carol Schuurmans
• Keywords: Piriform cortex

The three-layered piriform cortex, an integral part of the olfactory system, processes odor information relayed by bulb mitral cells. Specifically, cell axons form lateral tract (LOT) targeting (lot) guidepost cells in cortex. While lot and other cortical neurons share a pallial origin, factors that specify their precise phenotypes are poorly understood. Here we show mouse, proneural genes Neurog1 Neurog2 coexpressed ventral pallium, progenitor pool first gives rise to Cajal-Retzius (CR) cells, which populate layer I all domains, later II/III Using loss-of-function gain-of-function approaches, find has unique early role reducing CR neurogenesis tempering Neurog2's activity. In addition, have redundant functions acting two phases fate cortex neuronal identities. phase, also required for differentiation, reveal subset neurons, loss prevents axon innervation LOT formation. Consequently, mutation Trp73, CR-specific gene, results displacement. thus controlling timing differentiation early-born CR/lot specifying identities later-born neurons.