| The Hatten Lab | |
Research in the Hatten laboratory focuses on the development of laminar architecture in cortical regions of the developing mammalian brain. In particular, we are interested in mechanisms of fate specification during early steps of brain development and in the vast cellular migrations that occur in later periods of development. In our research, we have used the mouse cerebellar cortex as a model for CNS development.
To understand the mechanisms of neuronal migration along glial fibers, we are studying the cytoskeletal dynamics in real time. These studies have revealed a central role for the centrosome in nuclear translocation during migration. To discover novel guidance systems in CNS migrations, we are cloning homologs of genes that function in neuroblast migration in C. elegans, and studying their pattern of expression and function in neuronal migrations in the developing mammalian brain. As a first step, we are analyzing mammalian genes related to the C. elegans genes mig-13 and vab-8. To screen for other novel genes that function in CNS migrations, we are carrying out a large scale gene expression project with the Heintz Laboratory. This project, called GENSAT, generates BAC transgenic mice for CNS genes and maps gene expression with the EGFP reporter gene (www.gensat.org). A number of novel migration genes including Pdel1c, HGF and Wnt3a are under study.
Finally, as migration is an early step in CNS neuron differentiation, we are mapping transcription factor expression patterns in the embryonic cerebellar anlagen to study early patterns of cell specification and migration. The results of these studies are being used to direct the differentiation of embryonic stem cells toward cerebellar neuron fates.