UCLA researchers identify metabolic and physical signals driving human brain development

The short version

• Researchers at UCLA discovered that radial glia stem cells rely on glucose processing and direct physical contact from thalamic projections to choose which cortical brain cells to form.
• Manipulating the pentose phosphate pathway altered neuron generation, shifting production toward later-stage cell types.
• Physical contact between thalamic fibers and stem cells promoted upper-layer excitatory neurons, while mutations in the autism-linked NRXN1 gene disrupted this communication.
• Scientists plan to explore how these early developmental signals clarify mechanisms behind neurodevelopmental conditions and brain cancers.

Key facts

• Radial glia stem cells generate the majority of neurons and support cells in the human cerebral cortex before birth.[ScienceDaily]
• A Cell study led by Jessenya Mil and Jose Soto created a metabolic atlas of the developing cortex, showing that stem cells rely on the pentose phosphate pathway to guide cell fate.[ScienceDaily]
• Reducing glucose availability or disrupting the pentose phosphate pathway caused radial glia to produce more inhibitory neurons and later-developing cell types.[ScienceDaily]
• A Science study led by Claudia Nguyen demonstrated in stem cell-derived assembloids that early thalamic projections physically touch radial glia to stimulate the generation of upper-layer excitatory neurons.[ScienceDaily]
• Patient-derived mutations in the autism-linked gene NRXN1 disrupted thalamic signaling in laboratory models, altering the balance between stem cells and new neurons.[ScienceDaily]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

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