Mcph1 inactivation affected cell cycle progression and survival of neocortical progenitors at the molecular level

to gain insight into how Mcph1 inactivation affected cell cycle progression and survival of neocortical progenitors at the molecular level, we took advantage of primary cultures of mouse neuroprogenitor cells (mNPCs) that we derived from cortices dissected on E12.5 wild type (WTNPCs) and Mcph1 full knock-out (KONPCs) embryos, and that we amplified as neurospheres. We then conducted comparative transcriptomic analyses between WTNPCs and KONPCs, which revealed differential expression of genes controlling the cell cycle. For instance Chk1 was significantly down-regulated KONECs compared to WTNPCs. Moreover, genes related to metabolic pathways, in particular 93 nuclear genes encoding mitochondrial proteins, also stood out among differentially expressed genes and brought out oxidative phosphorylation as one of the most affected pathway. Overall design: we took advantage of primary cultures of mouse neuroprogenitor cells (mNPCs) that we derived from cortices dissected on E12.5 wild type (WTNPCs) and Mcph1 full knock-out (KONPCs) embryos, and that we amplified as neurospheres. We then conducted comparative transcriptomic analyses between WTNPCs and KONPCs, which revealed differential expression of genes controlling the cell cycle