The role of adherens junctions in the developing neocortex.
The disproportional enlargement of the neocortex through evolution has been instrumental in the success of vertebrates, in particular mammals. The neocortex is a multilayered sheet of neurons generated from a simple proliferative neuroepithelium through a myriad of mechanisms with substantial evolutionary conservation. This developing neuroepithelium is populated by progenitors that can generate additional progenitors as well as post-mitotic neurons. Subtle alterations in the production of progenitors vs. differentiated cells during development can result in dramatic differences in neocortical size. This review article will examine how cadherin adhesion proteins, in particular α-catenin and N-cadherin, function in regulating the neural progenitor microenvironment, cell proliferation, and differentiation in cortical development.
a Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory ; The Salk Institute ; La Jolla , CA USA.
Adam M
AM
Stocker
Anjen
A
Chenn
D022005:Adherens Junctions / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D015820:Cadherins / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D060833:Cellular Microenvironment; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D019579:Neocortex / Q000254:growth & development*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051178:alpha Catenin / Q000502:physiology*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000502:physiology*
D015820:Cadherins; D051178:alpha Catenin; D051176:beta Catenin
APC, Adenomatous polyposis coli.; CBD, catenin binding domain; CK1, Casein kinase 1; GSK3β, glycogen synthase kinase 3β; Hh, Hedgehog; JMD, juxtamembrane domain; N-cadherin; PCP, planar cell polarity; PI3K, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; PTEN, phosphatase and tensin homolog; SHH, sonic hedgehog; SNP, short neural precursor; VZ, ventricular zone; adherens junction; differentiation; proliferation; wnt; α-catenin; β-catenin