Grant: Project Grant

In the developing embryo, neural progenitor cells must give rise to a multitude of cell types in a specific order to generate a fully functional nervous system. To achieve this amazing task, the expression of thousands of genes must be tightly coordinated in the progenitor cells. How exactly this precise choreography of gene expression is regulated over time remains poorly understood. In recent work, we have identified a gene called Casz1 that we believe functions as the maestro of the gene expression orchestra during nervous system development. We hypothesize that Casz1 regulates the specific stage at which a particular group of genes will be expressed such that only a few neuronal cell types can be generated. This ensures that the nervous system is properly formed, avoiding neurodevelopmental disorders during embryo development. In this project, we will study the precise molecular mechanisms by which Casz1 might operate. We anticipate that this work will open up novel ways to diagnose and treat neurodevelopmental disorders and, more generally, how gene expression is temporally controlled during organ development to avoid disease.