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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.04.09.647935

ERK and PKA signaling drive the evolutionary expansion of the cortex

Zhang, Z.·Xu, Z.·Fu, T.·Li, J.·Yang, F.·Yang, C.·Zheng, W.·Sha, Z.·Gao, Y.·Sun, M.·Li, Z.·Ding, J.·LI, X.·Yang, Z.
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Abstract

The human cerebral cortex, essential for intelligence, cognition, and language, evolved its uniqueness through mechanisms that drive neuronal expansion. Here, we demonstrate that ERK and PKA signaling cooperatively preserve the neurogenic capacity of cortical radial glia (RGs) by inhibiting gliogenic YAP/TAZ and SHH signaling. YAP/TAZ signaling drives cortical RGs toward ependymal fate, while SHH signaling facilitates the generation of cortical tripotential intermediate progenitor cells that produce cortical astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and olfactory bulb interneurons. During evolution, cortical outer radial glia (oRGs) acquire dominant ERK/PKA signaling through a self-reinforcing feedback mechanism that suppresses both YAP and SHH pathways, thereby significantly enhancing oRG self-renewal capacity and extending the neurogenic period. These findings reveal that cortical neurogenesis, gliogenesis, and evolutionary expansion are coordinately regulated by an integrated ERK, PKA, YAP/TAZ, and SHH signaling, identifying a unifying principle of mammalian cortical development and evolution.

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Zhang, Z., Xu, Z., Fu, T., Li, J., Yang, F., Yang, C., Zheng, W., Sha, Z., Gao, Y., Sun, M., Li, Z., Ding, J., LI, X., Yang, Z.. 2025-04-09. ERK and PKA signaling drive the evolutionary expansion of the cortex. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.04.09.647935

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