Cortical projection neurons: sprung from the same root

Abstract

Whether cortical projection neurons (CPNs) are generated by multipotent or fate-restricted progenitors is not completely understood. In this issue of Neuron, Guo et al. (2013) provide evidence that mouse Fezf2-expressing radial glial cells are multipotent progenitors that sequentially generate all major CPN subtypes and glia.

Figure 1. Schematic Illustration of the Development of Cortical Progenitor Cells and CPN Diversity

Prior to the onset of cortical neurogenesis, neuroepithelial progenitor cells (NPCs) undergo a few rounds of symmetric division to expand the progenitor pool. NPCs then differentiate into early RGCs. Guo et al. (2013) provide evidence that early Fezf2-expressing RGCs (blue) are multipotent progenitors that sequentially generate all major CPN subtypes in both lower (mainly subcerebral CPNs; blue) and upper (exclusively intracerebral CPNs; green) layers, and subsequently glial cells. Adapted from Kwan et al. (2012).