Role of primary cilia in brain development and cancer

YG Han, A Alvarez-Buylla - Current opinion in neurobiology, 2010 - Elsevier
Current opinion in neurobiology, 2010Elsevier
The primary cilium, a hair-like extension from a cell's surface, acts as a sensory organelle to
receive signals that regulate cellular behavior and physiology. Like most mammalian cells,
neural progenitors and neurons have primary cilia. Recent studies show that this tiny
projection plays important roles in brain development and diseases. Ciliary mutant mice
show defects in brain patterning, progenitor proliferation, and specification of adult neural
stem cells. Primary cilia also have dual opposing functions in the development of brain …
The primary cilium, a hair-like extension from a cell's surface, acts as a sensory organelle to receive signals that regulate cellular behavior and physiology. Like most mammalian cells, neural progenitors and neurons have primary cilia. Recent studies show that this tiny projection plays important roles in brain development and diseases. Ciliary mutant mice show defects in brain patterning, progenitor proliferation, and specification of adult neural stem cells. Primary cilia also have dual opposing functions in the development of brain tumors. Ciliary defects are associated with genetic syndromes that frequently have neurological symptoms. Understanding the multifaceted roles that primary cilia have in brain development will provide important insights into the mechanism of brain development and diseases.
Elsevier