Integrative study of division patterns and morphological changes in neural stem cells

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K06207
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 44020:Developmental biology-related
• Research Institution: Institute of Physical and Chemical Research
• Principal Investigator: Fujita Ikumi 国立研究開発法人理化学研究所, 生命機能科学研究センター, 客員研究員 (80615138)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 神経発生 / 大脳皮質 / 神経幹細胞 / 放射状グリア / 細胞間接着 / 細胞分裂

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To quantify the dynamics of cell-cell adhesion at the apical surface, we established an analysis platform for efficient cell segmentation and cell lineage tracking through collaborative research. We analyzed neural stem cell dynamics at the apical surface during the neurogenic stages and obtained quantitative data on apical morphology, cell-cell adhesion relationships, and cell lineage of all cells present at a given time and in a given region. Through collaborative research, we analyzed the quantitative data obtained as a time-evolving network and analyzed the effects of neural stem cell behavior on the division and differentiation of neighboring cells. To track the dynamics of the morphology of neural stem cells over their entire length, we constructed a system to label cell membranes and cytoplasm in a variety of ways.

Free Research Field

発生生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は，哺乳類の大脳新皮質発生の根幹をなす，神経幹細胞のダイナミクスを定量的に解析する基盤を提供した。本研究におけるマウスを用いた解析では，神経幹細胞間で振る舞いに協調性が見られず，自律的かつ典型的な振る舞いの集合であることが示唆された。比較的シンプルな構造であるマウスの大脳皮質と比較し，ヒト大脳皮質はより大きく複雑な構造を形作る。本研究をさらに発展させ，ヒト組織における神経幹細胞の振る舞いの協調性やランダム性を明らかにすることで，ヒト大脳皮質発生の理解に貢献することが期待される。