Developmental Neuroscience Project
Principles of neocortical development and synapse formation
Research Summary
Mechanisms of Neural Network ormation: Neocortical development and synapse formation
How does the mammalian neocortex acquire the unique six-layered structure considered to be the structural basis for the remarkable evolution of complex neural circuits? We focus on subplate (SP) neurons that develop and mature too early during cortical development but disappear postnatally to approach this question. Recently, we found that SP neurons play an essential role in radial neuronal migration via direct interaction with young migrating neurons. Moreover, the SP layer is surrounded by a rich extracellular matrix (ECM), suggesting that it may be an important signaling center for mammalian corticogenesis. Functional elucidation of the SP layer should lead to a better understanding of brain development during evolution.
“We are interested in the roles of the subplate later in the development of the cerebral cortex. It suggests that this transient cell population plays a crucial role as a symbolic “control tower” during neocortical formation and also adult cortical function.”
Selected Publications
- Kumamoto T and Ohtaka-Maruyama C (2022) “Visualizing Cortical Development and Evolution: A Toolkit Update” Front Neurosci., 16,876406
- Miyatake S, et al. (2021) “Polymicrogyria: a novel ATP1A3-related phenotype.” Science Advances, 7(13): eabd2368.
- Ohtaka-Maruyama C (2020) “Subplate neurons as an organizer of mammalian neocortical development. ”Front. Neuroanat. 14, 8.
- Nomura T, et al. (2020) “Changes in Wnt-dependent neuronal morphology underlie the anatomical diversification of neocortical homologs in amniotes.” Cell Reports, 31,107592.
- Kamimura K et al. (2019) “The HSPG Glypican Regulates Experience-Dependent Synaptic and Behavioral Plasticity by Modulating the Non-Canonical BMP Pathway.” Cell Reports, 28, 3144-3156.
- Ohtaka-Maruyama C, et al. (2018) “Synaptic transmission from subplate neurons controls radial migration of neocortical neurons.” Science 360, 313-317
- Ohtaka-Maruyama C, et al. (2013) “RP58 regulates the multipolar-bipolar transition of newborn neurons in the developing cerebral cortex.” Cell Reports, 3, 458-471
- Kamimura, K, et al. (2013) “Perlecan regulates bidirectional Wnt signaling at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction.” J Cell Biol. 200, 219-233.