Characterization of Cux2 in the Developing Cerebellum

Abstract

A goal of developmental neurobiology is to understand the mechanisms involved in generating a mature nervous system. For example, researchers are trying to elucidate the processes of fate restriction, migration and maturation of neurons in the cerebellum. Specifically, it is unclear whether progenitors are fate restricted early in development or whether they become progressively fate restricted. Furthermore, Cux2 defines subsets of progenitors in multiple regions of the nervous system. Therefore, this study investigated the role of Cux2 in the developing cerebellum. Results revealed that Cux2 activity was restricted to the developing rhombic lip and choroid plexus, and that these cells were fated to became granule cells. However, the final set of experiments suggests that Cux2 is not capable of altering the fate of cerebellar progenitors. These results highlight that within the developing cerebellum Cux2 defines a subset of progenitors that are restricted to a granule cell fate.