Oleic acid triggers hippocampal neurogenesis by binding to TLX/NR2E1
Adult hippocampal neurogenesis underpins learning, memory, and mood, but diminishes with age and illness. The orphan nuclear receptor TLX/NR2E1 is known to regulate neural stem and progenitor cell self-renewal and proliferation, but the precise mechanism by which it accomplishes this is unknown. We found that neural stem and progenitor cells require monounsaturated fatty acids to survive and proliferate. Specifically, oleic acid (18:1{omega}9) binds to TLX to convert it from a transcriptional repressor to a transcriptional activator of cell cycle and neurogenesis genes. We propose a model in which sufficient quantities of this endogenous ligand must bind to TLX to trigger the switch to proliferation. These findings pave the way for future therapeutic manipulations to counteract pathogenic impairments of neurogenesis.