Genome-folding complex reveals a mechanism that helps establish neuron identity
A functional nervous system depends on the cooperation of many kinds of cells. As developing organisms build their nervous systems, their neurons must take on different forms and functions to fulfill their designated roles. That carefully orchestrated process gives rise to thousands of different cell types in the human brain.
The cohesin protein complex, which shapes the three-dimensional structure of the genome in both worms and humans, plays a crucial role in establishing neuron identities during development. In a study conducted at MIT, scientists discovered that cohesin works in conjunction with a gene-regulating protein called EOR-1 to direct some neurons to become GABA-producing neurons.
When cohesin is disrupted, cells that should have become GABA-producing neurons instead develop into adrenergic neurons, leading to excess adrenergic neurons in the worms. This finding could potentially aid in understanding and treating Cornelia de Lange syndrome, a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in cohesin genes.
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