Understanding the developmental mechanisms regulating the formation of the cerebral cortex

Objectives

The project aims to characterize the molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating the brain development during mammalian and human embryogenesis. More specifically, we focus on the development of the cerebral cortex to shed light on the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders.

Abstract

The cerebral cortex is a six-layered brain structure that ensures higher motor, sensory and cognitive functions. Its laminar organization reflects the fine regulation of developmental processes which, if altered, can lead to malformations of cortical development. These malformations are associated with clinical manifestations combining intellectual and/or motor deficits. Therefore, understanding how the cortex develops in utero is a sine qua non condition for deciphering neurodevelopmental disorders and their associated pathophysiological mechanisms. The cortical layers, holding a well-defined number and subtype of excitatory neurons, arise the sequential differentiation of progenitors into neurons that subsequently migrate to reach their final location. Using a combination of multi-scale approaches, we aim to study the developmental mechanisms that regulate the acquisition of neuronal identity and the orderly build-up of cortex.

Methods

Murine lines (genotyping), histology (embryonic and post-natal brain sectioning), in utero electroporation, primary culture (embryonic brain slices, cortical neuroprogenitor cells), immunohisto- and cytochemistry, confocal microscopy, image analyses and molecular biology techniques.

References

Wennagel D, et al. Huntingtin coordinates dendritic spine morphology and function through cofilin-mediated control of the actin cytoskeleton. Cell Rep. (2022). 40(9):111261

Barnat M, et al. Huntington's disease alters human neurodevelopment. Science (2020). 369(6505):787-793

Barnat M, et al. Huntingtin-mediated multipolar-bipolar transition of newborn cortical neurons is critical for their postnatal neuronal morphology. Neuron (2017). 93(1):99-114

Requested domains of expertise

Neurobiology, Cortical development, Cellular biology, Cell adhesion and dynamics, Molecular biology

Contact

Monia Barnat, Inserm researcher
Mail : monia.barnatuniv-grenoble-alpes.fr
Phone : +33 (0)4 56 52 05 33