2. Academic Validation
  3. Genes and brain malformations associated with abnormal neuron positioning

Genes and brain malformations associated with abnormal neuron positioning

  • Mol Brain. 2015 Nov 5;8(1):72. doi: 10.1186/s13041-015-0164-4.
Jeffrey J Moffat 1,  Minhan Ka 2,  Eui-Man Jung 3,  Woo-Yang Kim 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985960 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5960, USA. [email protected].
  • 2 Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985960 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5960, USA. [email protected].
  • 3 Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985960 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5960, USA. [email protected].
  • 4 Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985960 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198-5960, USA. [email protected].
PMID: 26541977 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-015-0164-4
Abstract

Neuronal positioning is a fundamental process during brain development. Abnormalities in this process cause several types of brain malformations and are linked to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, intellectual disability, epilepsy, and schizophrenia. Little is known about the pathogenesis of developmental brain malformations associated with abnormal neuron positioning, which has hindered research into potential treatments. However, recent advances in neurogenetics provide clues to the pathogenesis of aberrant neuronal positioning by identifying causative genes. This may help us form a foundation upon which therapeutic tools can be developed. In this review, we first provide a brief overview of neural development and migration, as they relate to defects in neuronal positioning. We then discuss recent progress in identifying genes and brain malformations associated with aberrant neuronal positioning during human brain development.

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