Function of Gamma-Protocadherins during postnatal neurogenesis in mice

• Applicant: Dr. Karl Martin Schwarz, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Developmental Neurobiology
• Term: from 2011 to 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 195195890

The proposed project aims at deciphering the function of γ-Protocadherins (γ-Pcdhs) during postnatal neurogenesis from the mouse subventricular zone (SVZ). To this end we generated conditional viable γ-Pcdh knockout (ko) mice, allowing virus-mediated γ-Pcdh deletion selectively in postnatal SVZ neuronal precursor cells to study their fate during migration along the rostral migratory stream (RMS) into the olfactory bulb (OB). Preliminary results indicated that in contrast to wild-type (wt) cells, a subset of postnatally born γ-Pcdh knock-out (ko) precursor cells erroneously migrated into the cortex and acquired the fate of pyramidal neurons. The remaining precursor cells migrated into the olfactory bulb (OB) where some cells incorrectly differentiated into excitatory mitral cells (MC). To better understand the function of γ-Pcdhs in this process, we aim to identify the type of cells in the neurogenic niche affected by γ-Pcdh loss-of-function. We further propose to investigate their fate following γ-Pcdh deletion and to delineate the molecular signaling pathways underlying this ectopic migration/differentiation. The results will offer a unique opportunity for a better understanding of the molecular constituents involved in the differentiation of neuronal subtypes.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants