Stanford Neurosciences Institute Seminar Series Presents
Development and reprogramming of neuronal diversity in the neocortex
Paola Arlotta, PhD
Associate Professor of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Faculty Member at Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University
Host: Sergiu Pasca
Abstract
The neocortex contains an unparalleled diversity of neuronal subtypes, each defined by distinct traits that are developmentally acquired under the control of several neuron subtype-specific and pan-neuronal genes. I will describe our recent work on the governing principles underlying developmental generation and postnatal maintenance of excitatory pyramidal neuron diversity in the cerebral cortex. I will also discuss how pyramidal neuron diversity impacts the behavior of other cell types during cortical development and discuss the critical effect on oligodendrocytes to guarantee generation of normal patterns of myelin distribution in different cortical layers. Once development is complete, it is well known that pyramidal neurons become permanently postmitotic and do not change their class-specific identity for the life span of the organism. I will show that during a defined window of postmitotic development (“critical window of nuclear plasticity”) pyramidal neurons can still change their class-specific identity in vivo and in turn reprogram the wiring of the afferent inhibitory circuit.
