Molecular control of adult neural stem cell quiescence (2016-2019)
Abstract
Within the central nervous system of the brain neural stem cells persist throughout adult life. These cells continually produce new neurons that are pivotal for processes including learning and memory, and deficits in adult neurogenesis have been linked to age-related cognitive decline. Adult neural stem cells are predominantly quiescent, dividing rarely to ensure that they are not prematurely exhausted. However, the factors that maintain this quiescence are very poorly defined. The goal of this proposal is to understand how stem cell quiescence is controlled at both a molecular and cellular level in vivo within the adult mouse brain, work that will greatly enhance our understanding of adult neural stem cell biology and function.
