Characterization of the role of specific transcription factors in the specification of the mode of migration and the dendritic morphology of pyramidal neurons in the cortex. Identification of their transcriptional targets and their protein interactors.
Characterization of the role of calcium signaling, cytoskeleton, small-GTPases and their GEFs and GAPs in the control of tangential and radial migration of neurons in the cortex.
Role of netrins and other guidance cues in specifying the topography of projection of thalamocortical axons in the telencephalon.
Research Synopsis:
Our lab is studying the developmental mechanisms patterning connections in the cerebral cortex. We are specifically interested in identifying the signaling pathways controlling three important and inter-related aspects of cortical neurons differentiation: migration, axon pathfinding and dendritic differentiation.
In order to analyze the role of specific signaling pathways in the specification of cortical connectivity, we are combining a wide array of molecular and cellular approaches such as: (1) biochemistry and proteomics, (2) time-lapse confocal microscopy, (3) calcium-imaging, (4) ex vivo and in utero electroporation, (5) in vitro co-culture assays and (6) analysis of mice presenting targeted gene deletion or promoter-driven GFP expressing mice.
Recent Publications:
Ferguson, K.L., McClellan, K.A., Vanderluit, J.L., McIntosh, W.C., Schuurmans, C., Polleux, F., and Slack, R.S. (2005) A cell-autonomous requirement for the cell cycle regulatory protein, Rb, in neuronal migration.
EMBO J 24(24): 4381-91. Abstract
Hand, R., Bortone, D., Mattar, P., Nguyen, L., Heng, J.I., Guerrier, S., Boutt, E., Peters, E., Barnes, A.P., Parras, C., Schuurmans, C., Guillemot, F., and Polleux, F. (2005) Phosphorylation of Neurogenin2 specifies the migration properties and the dendritic morphology of pyramidal neurons in the neocortex.
Neuron 48(1): 45-62. Abstract
Schuurmans, C., Armant, O., Nieto, M., Stenman, J.M., Britz, O., Klenin, N., Seibt, J., Brown, C., Tang, H., Cunningham, J.M., Dyck, R., Walsh, C.A., Campbell, K., Polleux, F., and Guillemot, F. (2004) Sequential phases of cortical fate specification involve Neurogenin-dependent and -independent pathways. EMBO J 23(14): 2892-2902. Abstract
Seibt, J., Schuurmans, C., Gradwhol, G., Dehay, C., Vanderhaeghen, P., Guillemot, F., and Polleux, F. (2003) Neurogenin2 specifies the connectivity of thalamic neurons by controlling axon responsiveness to intermediate target cues. Neuron 39(3): 439-452. Abstract
Polleux, F., Morrow, T., and Ghosh, A. (2000) Semaphorin 3A is a chemoattractant for cortical apical dendrites. Nature 404: 567-573. Abstract
