Project description:Derailed gene expression programs within the developing nervous system, encompassing both transcriptional and posttranscriptional processes, are implicated in diverse neurodevelopmental diseases. One of those debilitating diseases, the FOXG1-syndrome, lacks full understanding of the mechanistic role of its eponymous gene product, FOXG1. While it is known that FOXG1 acts in part at the chromatin by binding to regulative regions in the mouse, it is unclear which parts of the human chromatin associate with FOXG1. Here, we analyzed FOXG1 binding at the chromatin in human iPSC derived neural stem cells and 105 day old cortical organoids.
Project description:Disruptions in gene expression programs during nervous system development?affecting both transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation?are implicated in a range of neurodevelopmental disorders. Among these, FOXG1 syndrome remains poorly understood, particularly with respect to the mechanistic role of its namesake gene, FOXG1. In this study, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on day 105 (d105) cerebral organoids derived from healthy controls as well as from iPSCs carrying FOXG1^del and FOXG1^c.460dupG mutations, to investigate cell type?specific gene expression changes.
Project description:The abscence of TBR2 gene in human leads to microcephaly. This condition is mimicked by the specific ablation of the murine gene in developing cerebral cortex. Herein we compared gene expression in control and Tbr2 cKO in E14.5 cerebral cortices. This approach represents a useful tool to identify the molecular mechanisms at the basis of the phenotype. 6 samples, 3x Tbr2 +/+;Foxg1::Cre (control) and 3x Tbr2 fl/fl;Foxg1::Cre
Project description:We compared transcriptional profile of organoids derived from iPS lines of a Huntington patient (Q109) and CTR (Q21) at day 45 and day 105 of differentiation.
Project description:Rett syndrome is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that is mainly caused by mutations in MECP2. However, mutations in FOXG1 cause a less frequent non-congenital form called atypical Rett syndrome. FOXG1 is a key transcription factor implicated in forebrain development, where it maintains the balance between progenitor proliferation and neuronal differentiation. Using SILAC based quantitative proteomics and genome-wide small RNA sequencing, we identified that FOXG1 interacts with the ATP-dependent RNA helicase, DDX5/p68 and controls the biogenesis of miRNAs. Both, FOXG1 and DDX5 bind to the miR200b/a/429 primary transcript and associate with the microprocessor complex, whereby DDX5 recruits FOXG1 to DROSHA. In vivo and in vitro experiments show that both FOXG1 and DDX5 are necessary for effective maturation of miR200b/a/429. RNAseq analyses of Foxg1-heterozygote hippocampi and miR200b/a/429 overexpressing Neuro-2a cells revealed that the cAMP-dependent protein kinase type II-beta regulatory subunit (PRKAR2B) is a target of miR200 in neural cells. Since it is known that PRKAR2B inhibits postsynaptic functions by attenuating protein kinase A (PKA) activity, increased PRKAR2B levels may contribute to neuronal dysfunctions in FOXG1 Rett syndrome.
Project description:Next-generation sequencing facilitates quantitative analysis of the transcriptomes of FOXG1 100% dosage GABA interneurons, FOXG1 60% dosage GABA interneurons, FOXG1 30% dosage GABA interneurons, and FOXG1 0% dosage GABA interneurons derived from human embryonic stem cells. We report a genetic manipulation system that enable precise dosage control of FOXG1 protein in human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). Using this system, we explored how the various reduced dosage affect human ventrol GABA interneuron development. We employed RNA seq on hPSC-derived GABA interneurons (day 60) to invest the expression pattern under different FOXG1 dosage conditions. RNA-Seq on GABA interneurons (Day 60) indicates that compared to the FOXG1 100% group, variable insufficiency of FOXG1 produces more than 1000 differently expressed genes (DEGs), and more DEGs in the group with less FOXG1 dosage. Heat map on Pearson Correlation indicates that groups with more discriminated FOXG1 exhibit much weaker correlation. Venn diagram reveals that each group has a set of distinct DEGs, suggesting that each FOXG1 protein dosage could results in different expression pattern during differentiation. The DEGs can be divided into two clusters, with one showing dosage-dependent regulation by FOXG1 and the other one typical binary. Key regulatory genes for GABA interneuron induction (NKX2-1, NKX6-2, GAD1, etc.) and for functional GABAergic-specific synapse formation (GABBR1, GABRA1, GABRB1, GABRG1, GABRQ, SHANK1, etc.) are down regulated along with reduction of FOXG1 protein.
Project description:In the developing vertebrate central nervous system, neurons and glia typically arise sequentially from common progenitors. Here, we report that the transcription factor Forkhead Box G1 (Foxg1) regulates gliogenesis in the mouse neocortex via distinct cell-autonomous roles in progenitors and in postmitotic neurons that regulate different aspects of the gliogenic FGF signalling pathway. We demonstrate that loss of Foxg1 in cortical progenitors at neurogenic stages causes premature astrogliogenesis. We identify a novel FOXG1 target, the pro-gliogenic FGF pathway component Fgfr3, that is suppressed by FOXG1 cell-autonomously to maintain neurogenesis. Furthermore, FOXG1 can also suppress premature astrogliogenesis triggered by the augmentation of FGF signalling. We identify a second novel function of FOXG1 in regulating the expression of gliogenic ligand FGF18 in newborn neocortical upper-layer neurons. Loss of FOXG1 in postmitotic neurons increases Fgf18 expression and enhances gliogenesis in the progenitors. These results fit well with the model that newborn neurons secrete cues that trigger progenitors to produce the next wave of cell types, astrocytes. If FGF signalling is attenuated in Foxg1 null progenitors, they progress to oligodendrocyte production. Therefore, loss of FOXG1 transitions the progenitor to a gliogenic state, producing either astrocytes or oligodendrocytes depending on FGF signalling levels. Our results uncover how FOXG1 integrates extrinsic signalling via the FGF pathway to regulate the sequential generation of neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes in the cerebral cortex.
Project description:FOXG1 syndrome is a developmental encephalopathy with a high phenotypic variability, which results from FOXG1 mutations. However, the upstream transcriptional regulation of Foxg1 expression remains unclear. Here we report that both deficiency and overexpression of Men1 (protein: menin, a pathogenic gene of MEN1 syndrome) result in autism-like behaviors, including social defects, increased repetitive behaviors and cognition impairments. We employed multifaceted transcriptome analyses and found that Foxg1 signaling is mostly altered in Men1 deficiency mice, through its regulation over Alpha Thalassemia/Mental Retardation Syndrome X-Linked (Atrx) factor. Atrx recruits menin to bind to the transcriptional start region of Foxg1 and mediates the regulation of Foxg1 expression by H3K4me3 modification. Notably, the described changes in menin deficient mice were rescued by over-expression of Foxg1, leading to normalized spine growth and hippocampal synaptic plasticity. Collectively, these results indicate a putative role of menin in maintaining Foxg1 expression, and menin signaling may serve as Foxg1-related encephalopathy therapeutic targets.
Project description:Derailed gene expression programs within the developing nervous system, encompassing both transcriptional and posttranscriptional processes, are a frequent cause of diverse neurodevelopmental diseases. One of those debilitating diseases, the FOXG1-syndrome, lacks full understanding of the mechanistic role of its eponymous gene product, FOXG1. While it is known that FOXG1 acts in part at the chromatin by binding to regulative regions, it is unclear what factors control its presence at specific sites. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are implicated in site-directed transcription factor binding, but their potential role in FOXG1-syndrome has not been described. This data set is based on sequencing of co-immunoprecipitated RNA and it shows that FOXG1 associates with different RNAs.
Project description:We developed a human cerebral organoid model derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) with targeted genome editing to abolish protein expression of the Contactin Associated Protein-like 2 (CNTNAP2) autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk gene, mimicking loss-of-function mutations seen in patients. CNTNAP2-/- cerebral organoids displayed accelerated cell cycle, ventricular zone disorganisation and increased cortical folding. Proteomic analysis revealed disruptions in glutamatergic/GABAergic synaptic pathways and neurodevelopment, highlighting increased protein expression of corticogenesis and neurodevelopment-related genes such as Forkhead box protein G1 (FOXG1) and Paired box 6 (PAX6). Transcriptomic analysis revealed differentially expressed genes (DEG) belonging to inhibitory neuron-related gene networks. Interestingly, there was a weak correlation between the transcriptomic and proteomic data, suggesting nuanced translational control mechanisms. Along these lines we find upregulated Protein Kinase B (Akt)/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signalling in CNTNAP2-/- organoids. Spatial transcriptomics analysis of CNTNAP2-/- ventricular zones demonstrated pervasive changes in gene expression, particularly in PAX6- cells, implicating upregulation of cell cycle regulation pathways, synaptic and glutamatergic/GABAergic pathways. We noted a significant overlap of all omics datasets with idiopathic ASD (macrocephaly) iPSC-derived telencephalic organoids DEG, where FOXG1 was upregulated, along with aberrant expression of Glutamate decarboxylase 1 (GAD1) and T-Box Brain Transcription Factor 1 (TBR1), suggesting altered GABAergic/glutamatergic neuron development. These findings potentially highlight a shared mechanism in the early cortical development of various forms of ASD, further elucidate the role of CNTNAP2 in ASD pathophysiology and cortical development and pave the way for targeted therapies using cerebral organoids as preclinical models.