Biology subjects

Lakaye, B.

Publications and source records attributed to Lakaye, B..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Evolution Shapes Cortical Interneuron Migration

The cerebral cortex comprises excitatory neurons and inhibitory interneurons originating from distinct forebrain regions. During migration, cortical interneurons (cINs) interact dynamically with neighbouring cells and their microenvironment, contributing to cortical architecture. However, how evolutionary changes in cIN migration shape species-specific cortical development remains unclear. Comparative analyses in mouse, ferret, and human models revealed a conserved migratory sequence but distinct behaviours: human cINs migrate slower, display increased leading-process branching, and exhibit more frequent homotypic repulsive interactions than their mouse and ferret counterparts. These features promote dispersed cortical invasion of cINs in humans and ferrets, contrasting with the stream-like migration observed in mice. Mechanistically, elevated expression of the cytosolic carboxypeptidase CCP1 in human cINs reduces microtubule glutamylation and doublecortin recruitment, thereby facilitating leading-process branching. These findings identify a CCP1-dependent mechanism regulating cIN dispersion and suggest that evolutionary changes in cIN migration contribute to divergent patterns of cortical morphogenesis across mammals.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2024

Ccp1 depletion disrupts network integration of hippocampal parvalbumin interneurons

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of microtubules (MTs) endow them with specific properties that are essential for key cellular functions, such as axonal transport. Polyglutamylation, a PTM that accumulates in long-lived MTs, has been linked to neurodegeneration in the cerebellum when in excess. While hyperglutamylation of MTs leads to neurodegeneration and disrupts the function of specific neuronal subtypes like Purkinje cells, cortical neurons, and hippocampal excitatory neurons, little is known about its impact on inhibitory interneurons and their functional integration into local networks. In this study, we generated a conditional knockout mouse model to deplete cytosolic carboxypeptidase 1 (Ccp1) in GABAergic neurons, a key MT deglutamylase expressed by hippocampal interneurons. Our findings reveal that the loss of Ccp1 has a profound effect on hippocampal parvalbumin (PV)-expressing interneurons, impairing their axonal transport and reducing their perisomatic inhibition of pyramidal cells (PCs) in the CA2 region of the hippocampus. Research TopicsMolecular Neuroscience, Cell Biology HighlightsO_LIDifferent subtypes of hippocampal interneurons express unique sets of (de)glutamylases and show varying levels of protein posttranslational glutamylation. C_LIO_LIParvalbumin interneurons become hyperglutamylated when Ccp1 activity is lost. C_LIO_LIThe loss of Ccp1 disrupts axonal transport in interneurons and is associated with decreased perisomatic inhibition of hippocampal pyramidal cells in the CA2 region. C_LI

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

An unconventional conductance is required for pacemaking of nigral dopamine neurons

Although several ionic mechanisms are known to control rate and regularity of the pacemaker in dopamine (DA) neurons from the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc), a conductance essential for pacing has yet to be defined. Here we provide pharmacological evidence that pacemaking of SNc DA neurons is enabled by an unconventional conductance. We found that 1-(2,4-xylyl)guanidine (XG), an established blocker of gating pore currents in mutant voltage gated sodium channels, selectively stops pacemaking of DA SNc neurons and is without effect on the main pore of their voltage-gated channels. We isolated a voltage-dependent, non-inactivating XG-sensitive current of 20-25 pA which operates in the relevant subthreshold range and is carried by both Na+ and Cl- ions. While the molecular identity of this conductance remains to be determined, we show that this XG-sensitive current is crucial to sustain pacemaking in these neurons.

neuroscience↗