Identification of an embryonic origin of adult neural stem cells

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25891008
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Developmental biology
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: FURUTACHI Shohei 東京大学, 薬学研究科(研究院), 助教 (20713192)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): GOTOH Yukiko 東京大学, 大学院薬学系研究科, 教授 (70252525) ; NAKAYAMA I. Keiichi 九州大学, 生体防御医学研究所, 教授 (80291508) ; IMAYOSHI Itaru 京都大学ウイルス研究所, 白眉プロジェクト, 特定准教授 (60543296)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-08-30 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 神経幹細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The mechanism by which adult neural stem cells (NSCs) are established during development is unclear. In this study, analysis of cell-cycle progression by H2B-GFP retention analysis reveals that, in a subset of mouse embryonic neural progenitor cells (NPCs), the cell cycle slows down between E13.5-E15.5 while other embryonic NPCs continue to divide rapidly. By allowing H2B-GFP expressed at E9.5 to become diluted in dividing cells until the young adult stage, we show that a majority of NSCs in the young adult subependymal zone (SEZ) originate from these slowly dividing embryonic NPCs. The cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor p57 is highly expressed in this embryonic subpopulation and the deletion of p57 impairs the emergence of adult NSCs. Our results suggest that a substantial fraction of adult SEZ-NSCs is derived from a slowly dividing subpopulation of embryonic NPCs and identify p57 as a key factor in generating this embryonic origin of adult SEZ-NSCs.

Free Research Field

分子生物学