Biology subjects

Paul, M. A.

Publications and source records attributed to Paul, M. A..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

A molecularly-defined non-redundant subpopulation of OPCs controls the generation of myelinating oligodendrocytes during postnatal development.

Oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) are a class of glial cells that uniformly tiles the whole central nervous system. They play several key functions across the brain including the generation of oligodendrocytes and the control of myelination. Whether the functional diversity of OPCs is the result of genetically defined subpopulations or of their regulation by external factors has not been definitely established. We discovered that a subpopulation of OPCs found across the brain is defined by the expression of C1ql1, a gene previously described for its synaptic function in neurons. This subpopulation starts to appear during the first postnatal week in the mouse brain. Ablation of C1ql1-expressing OPCs in the mouse is not compensated by the remaining OPCs, and results in a massive lack of oligodendrocytes and myelination in many brain regions. Therefore, C1ql1 is a molecular marker of a functionally non-redundant subpopulation of OPCs, which controls the generation of myelinating oligodendrocytes.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2023

Mapping and targeting of C1ql1-expressing cells in the mouse

The C1Q complement protein C1QL1 is highly conserved in mammals where it is expressed in various tissues including the brain. This secreted protein interacts with Brain-specific Angiogenesis Inhibitor 3, BAI3/ADGRB3, and controls synapse formation and maintenance. C1ql1 is expressed in the inferior olivary neurons that send projections to cerebellar Purkinje cells, but its expression in the rest of the brain is less documented. To map C1ql1 expression and enable the specific targeting of C1ql1-expressing cells, we characterized a knockin mouse model expressing the Cre recombinase under the control of C1ql1 regulatory sequences. We characterized the capacity for Cre-driven recombination in the brain and mapped Cre expression in various neuron types using reporter mouse lines. Using an intersectional strategy with viral particle injections, we show that this mouse line can be used to target specific afferents of Purkinje cells. As C1ql1 is also expressed in other regions of the brain, as well as in other tissues such as adrenal glands, placenta, colon and testis, our mouse model is a useful tool to target C1ql1-expressing cells in a broad variety of tissues.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2023

Stepwise molecular specification of excitatory synapse diversity on a target neuron

Brain function relies on the generation of a large variety of morphologically and functionally diverse, but specific, neuronal synapses. Here, we show that, initially, synapse formation on a common target neuron, the cerebellar Purkinje cells, involves a presynaptic secreted protein common for all types of excitatory inputs. The molecular program then evolves only in one of the inputs with the additional expression of a combination of presynaptic secreted proteins that specify the mature pattern of connectivity on the target. These results show that some inputs actively and gradually specify their synaptic molecular identity while others rely on the "original code". Thus, the molecular specification of excitatory synapses, crucial for proper circuit function, is acquired in a stepwise manner during mouse postnatal development and obeys input-specific rules.

neuroscience↗