Zfp312 is required for subcortical axonal projections and dendritic morphology of deep-layer pyramidal neurons of the cerebral cortex.
Pyramidal neurons of the cerebral cortex display marked layer- and subtype-specific differences in their axonal projections and dendritic morphologies. Here we show that transcription factor Zfp312 is selectively expressed by layer V and VI subcortical projection pyramidal neurons and their progenitor cells. Knocking down Zfp312 with small interfering RNAs dramatically reduced the number of subcortical axonal projections from deep-layer pyramidal neurons and altered their dendritic morphology. In contrast, misexpression of Zfp312 in cortically projecting pyramidal neurons of layers II and III induced the expression of Tbr1, a transcription factor enriched in deep-layer neurons, and the formation of ectopic subcortical axonal projections. Thus, our results indicate that transcription factor Zfp312 plays a critical role in layer- and neuronal subtype-specific patterning of cortical axonal projections and dendritic morphologies.
Chen
Jie-Guang
JG
Department of Neurobiology and Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
Rasin
Mladen-Roko
MR
Kwan
Kenneth Y
KY
Sestan
Nenad
N
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003712:Dendrites / Q000378:metabolism*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; C412364:Zfp312 protein, mouse