title: Fezf2 expression identifies a multipotent progenitor for neocortical projection neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes.
abstract: Progenitor cells in the cerebral cortex sequentially generate distinct classes of projection neurons. Recent work suggests the cortex may contain intrinsically fate-restricted progenitors marked by expression of Cux2. However, the heterogeneity of the neocortical ventricular zone as well as the contribution of lineage-restricted progenitors to the overall cortical neurogenic program remains unclear. Here, we utilize in vivo genetic fate mapping to demonstrate that Fezf2-expressing radial glial cells (RGCs) exist throughout cortical development and sequentially generate all major projection neuron subtypes and glia. Moreover, we show that the vast majority of CUX2⁺ cells in the VZ and SVZ are migrating interneurons derived from the subcortical telencephalon. Examination of the embryonic cortical progenitor population demonstrates that Cux2⁺ RGCs generate both deep- and upper-layer projection neurons. These results identify Fezf2⁺ radial glial cells as a multipotent neocortical progenitor and suggest that the existence, and molecular identity, of laminar-fate-restricted RGCs awaits further investigation.
authors: Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA.
authors: Chao
authors: C
authors: Guo
authors: Matthew J
authors: MJ
authors: Eckler
authors: William L
authors: WL
authors: McKenna
authors: Gabriel L
authors: GL
authors: McKinsey
authors: John L R
authors: JL
authors: Rubenstein
authors: Bin
authors: B
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007839:Functional Laterality; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D039902:Multipotent Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D019579:Neocortex / Q000166:cytology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C101672:Cux2 protein, mouse; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C412364:Zfp312 protein, mouse; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D010450:Endopeptidases; C491324:Rce1 protein, mouse