Adherens Junctions: Guardians of Cortical Development
Apical radial glia comprise the pseudostratified neuroepithelium lining the embryonic lateral ventricles and give rise to the extensive repertoire of pyramidal neuronal subtypes of the neocortex. The establishment of a highly apicobasally polarized radial glial morphology is a mandatory prerequisite...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fcell.2020.00006/full |
| _version_ | 1819055079573946368 |
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| author | Lenin Veeraval Conor J. O’Leary Helen M. Cooper |
| author_facet | Lenin Veeraval Conor J. O’Leary Helen M. Cooper |
| author_sort | Lenin Veeraval |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Apical radial glia comprise the pseudostratified neuroepithelium lining the embryonic lateral ventricles and give rise to the extensive repertoire of pyramidal neuronal subtypes of the neocortex. The establishment of a highly apicobasally polarized radial glial morphology is a mandatory prerequisite for cortical development as it governs neurogenesis, neural migration and the integrity of the ventricular wall. As in all epithelia, cadherin-based adherens junctions (AJs) play an obligate role in the maintenance of radial glial apicobasal polarity and neuroepithelial cohesion. In addition, the assembly of resilient AJs is critical to the integrity of the neuroepithelium which must resist the tensile forces arising from increasing CSF volume and other mechanical stresses associated with the expansion of the ventricles in the embryo and neonate. Junctional instability leads to the collapse of radial glial morphology, disruption of the ventricular surface and cortical lamination defects due to failed neuronal migration. The fidelity of cortical development is therefore dependent on AJ assembly and stability. Mutations in genes known to control radial glial junction formation are causative for a subset of inherited cortical malformations (neuronal heterotopias) as well as perinatal hydrocephalus, reinforcing the concept that radial glial junctions are pivotal determinants of successful corticogenesis. In this review we explore the key animal studies that have revealed important insights into the role of AJs in maintaining apical radial glial morphology and function, and as such, have provided a deeper understanding of the aberrant molecular and cellular processes contributing to debilitating cortical malformations. We highlight the reciprocal interactions between AJs and the epithelial polarity complexes that impose radial glial apicobasal polarity. We also discuss the critical molecular networks promoting AJ assembly in apical radial glia and emphasize the role of the actin cytoskeleton in the stabilization of cadherin adhesion – a crucial factor in buffering the mechanical forces exerted as a consequence of cortical expansion. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T13:01:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6081c1c100034838b7ba8009edfc15b6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-634X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T13:01:49Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-6081c1c100034838b7ba8009edfc15b62022-12-21T19:03:10ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology2296-634X2020-01-01810.3389/fcell.2020.00006508788Adherens Junctions: Guardians of Cortical DevelopmentLenin VeeravalConor J. O’LearyHelen M. CooperApical radial glia comprise the pseudostratified neuroepithelium lining the embryonic lateral ventricles and give rise to the extensive repertoire of pyramidal neuronal subtypes of the neocortex. The establishment of a highly apicobasally polarized radial glial morphology is a mandatory prerequisite for cortical development as it governs neurogenesis, neural migration and the integrity of the ventricular wall. As in all epithelia, cadherin-based adherens junctions (AJs) play an obligate role in the maintenance of radial glial apicobasal polarity and neuroepithelial cohesion. In addition, the assembly of resilient AJs is critical to the integrity of the neuroepithelium which must resist the tensile forces arising from increasing CSF volume and other mechanical stresses associated with the expansion of the ventricles in the embryo and neonate. Junctional instability leads to the collapse of radial glial morphology, disruption of the ventricular surface and cortical lamination defects due to failed neuronal migration. The fidelity of cortical development is therefore dependent on AJ assembly and stability. Mutations in genes known to control radial glial junction formation are causative for a subset of inherited cortical malformations (neuronal heterotopias) as well as perinatal hydrocephalus, reinforcing the concept that radial glial junctions are pivotal determinants of successful corticogenesis. In this review we explore the key animal studies that have revealed important insights into the role of AJs in maintaining apical radial glial morphology and function, and as such, have provided a deeper understanding of the aberrant molecular and cellular processes contributing to debilitating cortical malformations. We highlight the reciprocal interactions between AJs and the epithelial polarity complexes that impose radial glial apicobasal polarity. We also discuss the critical molecular networks promoting AJ assembly in apical radial glia and emphasize the role of the actin cytoskeleton in the stabilization of cadherin adhesion – a crucial factor in buffering the mechanical forces exerted as a consequence of cortical expansion.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fcell.2020.00006/fullcortical developmentradial gliaadherens junctionscortical malformationependymal cellapicobasal polarity |
| spellingShingle | Lenin Veeraval Conor J. O’Leary Helen M. Cooper Adherens Junctions: Guardians of Cortical Development Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology cortical development radial glia adherens junctions cortical malformation ependymal cell apicobasal polarity |
| title | Adherens Junctions: Guardians of Cortical Development |
| title_full | Adherens Junctions: Guardians of Cortical Development |
| title_fullStr | Adherens Junctions: Guardians of Cortical Development |
| title_full_unstemmed | Adherens Junctions: Guardians of Cortical Development |
| title_short | Adherens Junctions: Guardians of Cortical Development |
| title_sort | adherens junctions guardians of cortical development |
| topic | cortical development radial glia adherens junctions cortical malformation ependymal cell apicobasal polarity |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fcell.2020.00006/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT leninveeraval adherensjunctionsguardiansofcorticaldevelopment AT conorjoleary adherensjunctionsguardiansofcorticaldevelopment AT helenmcooper adherensjunctionsguardiansofcorticaldevelopment |