Project description:To acquire an enhanced understanding of the molecular processes that mediate cerebellar development, we performed single-cell RNA-sequencing of 39,245 murine cerebellar cells at twelve critical developmental time points. Using recognized lineage markers, we confirmed that the single-cell data accurately recapitulate cerebellar development
Project description:Contactin-associated protein-like 2 (Caspr2) is a neurexin-like protein that has been associated with numerous neurological conditions. However, the mechanisms underlying Caspr2 function in the central nervous system remain incompletely understood. Here, we report on a functional role for Caspr2 in the developing cerebellum. Loss of Caspr2 impairs Purkinje cell dendritic development, alters cell signaling and results in motor coordination deficits. Caspr2 is highly enriched at synaptic specializations in the cerebellum. Using a proteomic approach, we identify type 1 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP3R1) as a specific synaptic interaction partner of the Caspr2 extracellular domain (ECD) in the molecular layer (ML) of the developing cerebellum. The interaction of Caspr2 ECD with IP3R1 inhibits IP3R1-mediated changes in cellular morphology. Together, our work defines a mechanism by which Caspr2 controls the development and function of the cerebellum, and advances our understanding of how Caspr2 dysfunction might lead to specific brain disorders.
Project description:MicroRNA expression profiling using microRNA microarrays was performed on the porcine developing brain. Two tissues, cortex and cerebellum, were sampled at each of three different developmental stages: gestation day 50 (F50), gestation day 100 (F100) and three months old (named adult), respectively. The aim was to find developmental stage-, as well as tissue-specific, microRNA candidates and validate them with qPCR.
Project description:We used single-cell transcriptomics to study >60,000 cells from the developing murine cerebellum, and show that different molecular subgroups of childhood cerebellar tumors mirror the transcription of cells from distinct, temporally restricted cerebellar lineages.