Specific astral microtubules control neurogenesis.

What is it about?

For our brain to develop healthily, neural stem cells first multiply and later start producing the neurons needed for normal brain function. This work shows how stem cells in the developing mouse neocortex can control this key switch, from multiplication to neuron production. The abundance of specific microtubules, cellular ropes involved in cell division, controls if the division will make more stem cells or neurons. When the number of those microtubules is reduced, more neurons are made.

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Why is it important?

This study shows that changes in the orientation of neural stem cell division in mammals can be enough to determine if divisions will be proliferative or neurogenic. Similar observations have been made in other organisms, like fruit flies, but mammals use an unexpected strategy to do it: reducing only the number of specific astral microtubules to subtly change division orientation. This helps to better understand how the brain grows and develops, and may help fight neurodevelopmental disorders.