Neocortex Expansion in Development and Evolution: The Cell Biology of Neural Stem and Progenitor Cells and the Impact of Human-Specific Gene Expression

Bibliographic Collection: 
CARTA-Inspired Publication
Publication Type: Book Chapter
Authors: Kalebic, N; Long, K; Huttner, WB
Editors: Kaas, JH
Year of Publication: 2017
Book Title: Evolution of Nervous Systems
Edition: 2nd edition
Pagination: 73 - 89
Date Published: 2017
Publisher: Academic Press
City: Oxford
Publication Language: eng
ISBN Number: 978-0-12-804096-6
Keywords: ARHGAP11B, Basal progenitors, Cell biology, Extracellular matrix, human-specific genes, Neocortex evolution, Neocortical development, Neural progenitor cell, Neural stem cell, Radial glia
Abstract:

The unique cell biological features of neural stem and progenitor cells contribute to the evolutionary expansion of the neocortex. The major types of progenitor cells responsible for this are the proliferative basal progenitors (BPs), which mainly reside within the outer subventricular zone (oSVZ) of gyrencephalic species, such as primates. Primate BPs are able to generate their own niche microenvironment in the oSVZ, sustaining their increased proliferative potential. Recent advances in transcriptional profiling have led to the identification of (1) human-specific expression patterns underlying the generation of this niche and (2) human-specific genes involved in cortical development such as ARHGAP11B.

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