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  • Molecular Logic of Spinocerebellar Tract Neuron Diversity and Connectivity.

Molecular Logic of Spinocerebellar Tract Neuron Diversity and Connectivity.

Cell reports (2019-05-30)
Myungin Baek, Vilas Menon, Thomas M Jessell, Adam W Hantman, Jeremy S Dasen
ABSTRACT

Coordinated motor behaviors depend on feedback communication between peripheral sensory systems and central circuits in the brain and spinal cord. Relay of muscle- and tendon-derived sensory information to the CNS is facilitated by functionally and anatomically diverse groups of spinocerebellar tract neurons (SCTNs), but the molecular logic by which SCTN diversity and connectivity is achieved is poorly understood. We used single-cell RNA sequencing and genetic manipulations to define the mechanisms governing the molecular profile and organization of SCTN subtypes. We found that SCTNs relaying proprioceptive sensory information from limb and axial muscles are generated through segmentally restricted actions of specific Hox genes. Loss of Hox function disrupts SCTN-subtype-specific transcriptional programs, leading to defects in the connections between proprioceptive sensory neurons, SCTNs, and the cerebellum. These results indicate that Hox-dependent genetic programs play essential roles in the assembly of neural circuits necessary for communication between the brain and spinal cord.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Roche
DIG RNA Labeling Kit (SP6/T7), sufficient for 2 x 10 labeling reactions, kit of 1 (12 components), suitable for hybridization, suitable for Southern blotting
Sigma-Aldrich
Fast Green FCF, certified by the Biological Stain Commission
Sigma-Aldrich
Anti-Vesicular Glutamate Transporter 1 Antibody, serum, Chemicon®
Sigma-Aldrich
Anti-Choline Acetyltransferase Antibody, Chemicon®, from goat
Sigma-Aldrich
Anti-EBF-3 Antibody, from rabbit, purified by affinity chromatography