N-myc is a key switch regulating the proliferation cycle of postnatal cerebellar granule cell progenitors

Sci Rep. 2015 Aug 4:5:12740. doi: 10.1038/srep12740.

Abstract

N-myc plays an important role in early cerebellar development; however, the role of N-myc in postnatal cerebellar development is still unknown. In this study, inducible and reversible N-myc mouse models (Nmyc(TRE/TRE):tTS and Nmyc(EGFP/TRE):tTS) are used to regulate and track the expression of endogenous N-myc in vivo. Loss of N-myc at the neonatal stage results in reduced proliferation of granule cell precursors (GCPs) and reduced cerebellar volume/mass. Restoration of N-myc expression no later than postnatal day 4 can rescue the cerebellar developmental defect caused by the absence of N-myc after birth. During cerebellar postnatal development, N-myc acts as a key switch, regulating the proliferation cycle of postnatal granule cell progenitors. Loss of N-myc significantly impairs the Sonic hedgehog signalling pathway, and disrupts the expression of cell cycle effectors with a significant reduction of Ccnd2. More importantly, N-myc negatively regulates the expression of microRNA-9 during postnatal cerebellar development. Our findings demonstrate that over-expression of miR-9 can inhibit the proliferation of GCPs. The regulation of these factors by N-myc is at least partly responsible for the switch role of N-myc in the proliferation cycle of GCPs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cerebellum / cytology
  • Cerebellum / growth & development
  • Cerebellum / metabolism*
  • Cyclin D2 / genetics*
  • Cyclin D2 / metabolism
  • Cytoplasmic Granules / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Hedgehog Proteins / genetics*
  • Hedgehog Proteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism
  • Neural Stem Cells / cytology
  • Neural Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / deficiency
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Ccnd2 protein, mouse
  • Cyclin D2
  • Hedgehog Proteins
  • MIRN9 microRNA, mouse
  • MicroRNAs
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc
  • Shh protein, mouse