ZEB1 Represses Neural Differentiation and Cooperates with CTBP2 to Dynamically Regulate Cell Migration during Neocortex Development

Cell Rep. 2019 May 21;27(8):2335-2353.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.04.081.

Abstract

Zinc-finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (Zeb1) is a key regulator of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cancer metastasis. Mutation of ZEB1 is associated with human diseases and defective brain development. Here we show that downregulation of Zeb1 expression in embryonic cortical neural progenitor cells (NPCs) is necessary for proper neuronal differentiation and migration. Overexpression of Zeb1 during neuronal differentiation, when its expression normally declines, blocks NPC lineage progression and disrupts multipolar-to-bipolar transition of differentiating neurons, leading to severe migration defects and subcortical heterotopia bands at postnatal stages. ZEB1 regulates a cohort of genes involved in cell differentiation and migration, including Neurod1 and Pard6b. The interaction between ZEB1 and CTBP2 in the embryonic cerebral cortex is required for ZEB1 to elicit its effect on the multipolar-to-bipolar transition, but not its suppression of Neurod1. These findings provide insights into understanding the complexity of transcriptional regulation during neuronal differentiation.

Keywords: Ctbp2; Zeb1; cell migration; cortical development; neocortex; neural stem cells; neurogenesis; zinc finger protein.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alcohol Oxidoreductases / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement
  • Co-Repressor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Neocortex / growth & development*
  • Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Co-Repressor Proteins
  • ZEB1 protein, human
  • Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1
  • Alcohol Oxidoreductases
  • CTBP2 protein, human