The relationship between progenitor populations and the organisation of local excitatory synaptic circuits within the mammalian cortex. (360G-Wellcome-099711_Z_12_A)

A fundamental question in neuroscience is how neurons establish their functional identity and specific synaptic connections with other cells. However, we still know very little about how, or when, the functional identityand connectivity of an individual neuron becomes constrained during its development. Recent technical advances now make it possible to label differentpopulations of neurons in the brain, and this work has generated exciting discoveries into the processes by which neurons form functional networks. Herewe will build upon the observation that excitatory cortical neurons are generated from multiple progenitor pools within the ventricular zones of the embryonic brain. Using the somatosensory cortex of the mouse as a model system, the goal of this project is to investigate the extent to which synaptic connectivity within and between layers of the cortex are influenced by the particular progenitor population from which neurons are derived. We will focus upon layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons, which are the most abundant cellsof the cortex. Experiments will assess whether layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons derived from a population of so-called 'short neural progenitors' (SNPs), which express the transcription factor alpha-tubulin 1 (T?1), exhibit distinctpatterns of synaptic connectivity when compared to layer 2/3 pyramidal neuronsderived from other progenitors.