Project description:Neurons express numerous genes in response to environmental stimuli. This activity-dependent transcription is vital for neurons to function and hence for the brain to exert its complex processes. Post translational modifications of core histones have been implicated in the regulation of neuronal activity-dependent transcription. On the other hand, transcription and repair also involves the exchange of core histones, which regulates histone metabolism, but its involvement in neural activity-dependent transcription is currently well unknown. Here, in mature postmitotic neurons derived from mouse hippocampus, a Hist1h3f gene, which encodes replication-dependent histone H3.2, is expressed upon stimulation to glutamine receptors. Salt extraction and metabolic labeling of newly synthesized proteins in neurons revealed that core histone proteins are increased at protein levels in response to glutamine receptor stimulation. These results suggest that newly synthesized replication-dependent histone play a role in post-mitotic neurons. We performed microarrays to investigte the global transcriptional profiles of activity-dependent gene expression and identified two class of up-regulated genes during this process.
Project description:Once generated, neurons are thought to permanently exit the cell cycle and become irreversibly differentiated. However, neither the precise point at which this post-mitotic state is attained nor the extent of its irreversibility is clearly defined. Here we report that newly born neurons from the upper layers of the mouse cortex, despite initiating axon and dendrite elongation, continue to drive gene expression from the neurogenic intermediate neural progenitor tubulin ?1 promoter (T?1p). These observations suggest an ambiguous post-mitotic neuronal state. Whole transcriptome analysis of sorted upper cortical neurons further revealed that neurons continue to express genes related to cell cycle progression long after mitotic exit until at least post-natal day 3 (P3). These genes are however down regulated thereafter and are associated with a concomitant up regulation of tumor suppressors at P5. Interestingly, newly born neurons located in the cortical plate (CP) at embryonic day 18-19 (E18-E19) and P3 challenged with calcium influx are found in S/G2/M phases of the cell cycle, and still able to undergo division at E18-E19 but not at P3. At P5 however, calcium influx becomes neurotoxic and leads instead to neuronal loss. Our data delineate for the first time the temporal window during which developing neurons acquire a post-mitotic state.
Project description:In order to gain a greater understanding of the role of the condensin subunit Cap-G in post-mitotic neurons, we profiled the binding of Cap-G to chromatin in neurons (at different stages of maturation) and neural stem cells in Drosophila using Targeted DamID. We also performed RNA-seq on larval brains that had Cap-G was knocked-down specifically in neurons.
Project description:The nervous system of animals is functional at early postembryonic stages but undergoes extensive anatomical and functional changes throughout postembryonic development to eventually form a fully mature nervous system at adulthood. The molecular changes in post-mitotic neurons across post-embryonic development and the genetic programs that control these temporal transitions are not well understood. Using the model organism C. elegans, we comprehensively characterized the distinct functional states (locomotor behavior) and corresponding distinct molecular states (transcriptome) of the post-mitotic nervous system across temporal transitions from early post-embryonic periods to adulthood. We observed pervasive changes in gene expression, many of which controlled by the conserved heterochronic miRNA lin-4/mir-125 and its target, the transcription factor lin-14. The functional relevance of these molecular, lin-4/lin-14 controlled transitions are exemplified by a novel neuropeptide, nlp-45, which confers temporally controlled anti-exploratory activities. Our studies provide new insights into a perhaps generalizable regulatory mechanism that alters neuron-type specific gene batteries to modulate distinct behaviors states, and also provides a rich atlas of post-embryonic molecular changes to uncover additional regulatory mechanisms.
Project description:The nervous system of animals is functional at early postembryonic stages but undergoes extensive anatomical and functional changes throughout postembryonic development to eventually form a fully mature nervous system at adulthood. The molecular changes in post-mitotic neurons across post-embryonic development and the genetic programs that control these temporal transitions are not well understood. Using the model organism C. elegans, we comprehensively characterized the distinct functional states (locomotor behavior) and corresponding distinct molecular states (transcriptome) of the post-mitotic nervous system across temporal transitions from early post-embryonic periods to adulthood. We observed pervasive changes in gene expression, many of which controlled by the conserved heterochronic miRNA lin-4/mir-125 and its target, the transcription factor lin-14. The functional relevance of these molecular, lin-4/lin-14 controlled transitions are exemplified by a novel neuropeptide, nlp-45, which confers temporally controlled anti-exploratory activities. Our studies provide new insights into a perhaps generalizable regulatory mechanism that alters neuron-type specific gene batteries to modulate distinct behaviors states, and also provides a rich atlas of post-embryonic molecular changes to uncover additional regulatory mechanisms.