Image shows NeuroD1.
Cells in which NeuroD1 is turned on are reprogrammed to become neurons. Cell nuclei are shown in blue (Höchst stain) and neurons, with their characteristic long processes, are shown in red (stained with neuronal marker TUJ1). Credit: Abhijeet Pataskar, Johannes Jung, Vijay Tiwari.

A Master Switch for Brain Development

NeuroD1 gene is essential for eliciting the neuronal development program and possesses the ability to reprogram other cell types into neurons.

Scientists at the Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) in Mainz have unraveled a complex regulatory mechanism that explains how a single gene can drive the formation of brain cells. The research, published in The EMBO Journal, is an important step towards a better understanding of how the brain develops. It also harbors potential for regenerative medicine.

Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, are often characterized by an irreversible loss of brain cells. Unlike many other cell types in the body, these neurons are generally not able to regenerate by themselves, so if the brain is damaged, it stays damaged. One hope of developing treatments for this kind of damage is to understand how the brain develops in the first place, and then try to imitate the process. However, the brain is also one of the most complex organs in the body, and very little is understood about the molecular pathways that guide its development.

Scientists in Dr. Vijay Tiwari’s group at the Institute of Molecular Biology at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz have been investigating a central gene in brain development, NeuroD1. This gene is expressed in the developing brain and marks the onset of neurogenesis.

In their research article, Tiwari and his colleagues have shown that during brain development NeuroD1 is not only expressed in brain stem cells but acts as a master regulator of a large number of genes that cause these cells to develop into neurons. They used a combination of neurobiology, epigenetics, and computational biology approaches to show that these genes are normally turned off in development, but NeuroD1 activity changes their epigenetic state in order to turn them on. Strikingly, the researchers show that these genes remain switched on even after NeuroD1 is later switched off. They further show that this is because NeuroD1 activity leaves permanent epigenetic marks on these genes that keep them turned on, in other words it creates an epigenetic memory of neuronal differentiation in the cell.

Diagram shows how NeuroD1 influences neurodevelopment.
The diagram shows how NeuroD1 influences the development of neurons. During brain development, expression of NeuroD1 marks the onset of neurogenesis. NeuroD1 accomplishes this via epigenetic reprogramming: neuronal genes are switched on, and the cells develop into neurons. Credit: Abhijeet Pataskar, Johannes Jung, Vijay Tiwari.

Abhijeet Pataskar and Johannes Jung, joint first authors on the paper, explained the significance of this discovery: “Our research has shown how a single factor, NeuroD1, has the capacity to change the epigenetic landscape of the cell, resulting in a gene expression program that directs the generation of neurons.”

Dr. Vijay Tiwari is excited about the implications of these findings: “This is a significant step towards understanding the relationship between DNA sequence, epigenetic changes, and cell fate. It not only sheds new light on the formation of the brain during embryonic development but also opens up novel avenues for regenerative therapy.”

About this genetics and neurodevelopment research

Source: Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
Image Source: The images are credited to Abhijeet Pataskar, Johannes Jung, Vijay Tiwari
Original Research: Abstract for “NeuroD1 reprograms chromatin and transcription factor landscapes to induce the neuronal program” by Abhijeet Pataskar, Johannes Jung, Pawel Smialowski, Florian Noack, Federico Calegari, Tobias Straub, and Vijay K Tiwari in EMBO Journal. Published online October 29 2015 doi:10.15252/embj.201591206

Abstract for “Putting chromatin in its place: the pioneer factor NeuroD1 modulates chromatin state to drive cell fate decisions” by Alexander Glahs, and Robert P Zinzen in EMBO Journal. Published online November 13 2015 doi:10.15252/embj.201593324


Abstract

NeuroD1 reprograms chromatin and transcription factor landscapes to induce the neuronal program

Cell fate specification relies on the action of critical transcription factors that become available at distinct stages of embryonic development. One such factor is NeuroD1, which is essential for eliciting the neuronal development program and possesses the ability to reprogram other cell types into neurons. Given this capacity, it is important to understand its targets and the mechanism underlying neuronal specification. Here, we show that NeuroD1 directly binds regulatory elements of neuronal genes that are developmentally silenced by epigenetic mechanisms. This targeting is sufficient to initiate events that confer transcriptional competence, including reprogramming of transcription factor landscape, conversion of heterochromatin to euchromatin, and increased chromatin accessibility, indicating potential pioneer factor ability of NeuroD1. The transcriptional induction of neuronal fate genes is maintained via epigenetic memory despite a transient NeuroD1 induction during neurogenesis. NeuroD1 also induces genes involved in the epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition, thereby promoting neuronal migration. Our study not only reveals the NeuroD1‐dependent gene regulatory program driving neurogenesis but also increases our understanding of how cell fate specification during development involves a concerted action of transcription factors and epigenetic mechanisms.

“NeuroD1 reprograms chromatin and transcription factor landscapes to induce the neuronal program” by Abhijeet Pataskar, Johannes Jung, Pawel Smialowski, Florian Noack, Federico Calegari, Tobias Straub, and Vijay K Tiwari in EMBO Journal. Published online October 29 2015 doi:10.15252/embj.201591206


Abstract

Putting chromatin in its place: the pioneer factor NeuroD1 modulates chromatin state to drive cell fate decisions

Cell fate decisions require the deployment of distinct transcriptional programmes—how this is controlled and orchestrated is a key question from basic developmental biology to regenerative medicine. In this issue of The EMBO Journal, Pataskar and Jung et al (Pataskar et al, 2015) demonstrate how the transcription factor NeuroD1 acts genome‐wide to elicit a specific neurogenic programme, including differentiation and migration. Much of that activity is due to NeuroD1 acting as a pioneer factor. NeuroD1 is able to bind its targets within repressive chromatin and can induce a more open chromatin state amenable to cell type‐specific regulation.

“Putting chromatin in its place: the pioneer factor NeuroD1 modulates chromatin state to drive cell fate decisions” by Alexander Glahs, and Robert P Zinzen in EMBO Journal. Published online November 13 2015 doi:10.15252/embj.201593324

Feel free to share this neuroscience article.
Join our Newsletter
I agree to have my personal information transferred to AWeber for Neuroscience Newsletter ( more information )
Sign up to receive our recent neuroscience headlines and summaries sent to your email once a day, totally free.
We hate spam and only use your email to contact you about newsletters. You can cancel your subscription any time.