The role of Polycomb group proteins during mouse neural development. Mus musculus

Neurons and glial cells that consist central nervous system are differentiated from neural precursor cells (NPCs). During the early stage of cortical development, NPCs proliferate symmetrically to increase NPC pool (expansion phase), and then they switch to an asymmetric mode of division to generate neurons and glial cells (neurogenic/gliogenic phase). The timing of the expansion-to-neurogenic or neurogenic-to-gliogenic phase transition is important for the proper brain construction. Previously, we have shown that Polycomb group proteins (PcG) play crucial roles in this phate transition. Here, we are examining the roles of PcG focusing on the transcriptomic, epingenetic and chromatin regulations of embryonic NPCs.