CIC is a critical regulator of neuronal differentiation.

TitleCIC is a critical regulator of neuronal differentiation.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2020
AuthorsHwang I, Pan H, Yao J, Elemento O, Zheng H, Paik J
JournalJCI Insight
Volume5
Issue9
Date Published2020 May 07
ISSN2379-3708
Abstract

Capicua (CIC), a member of the high mobility group-box (HMG-box) superfamily of transcriptional repressors, is frequently mutated in human oligodendrogliomas. However, its functions in brain development and tumorigenesis remain poorly understood. Here, we report that brain-specific deletion of Cic compromises developmental transition of neuroblasts to immature neurons in mouse hippocampus and compromises normal neuronal differentiation. Combined gene expression and ChIP-seq analyses identified VGF as an important CIC-repressed transcriptional surrogate involved in neuronal lineage regulation. Aberrant VGF expression promotes neural progenitor cell proliferation by suppressing their differentiation. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that CIC represses VGF expression by tethering SIN3-HDAC to form a transcriptional corepressor complex. Mass spectrometry analysis of CIC-interacting proteins further identified the BRG1-containing mSWI/SNF complex whose function is necessary for transcriptional repression by CIC. Together, this study uncovers a potentially novel regulatory pathway of CIC-dependent neuronal differentiation and may implicate these molecular mechanisms in CIC-dependent brain tumorigenesis.

DOI10.1172/jci.insight.135826
Alternate JournalJCI Insight
PubMed ID32229723
PubMed Central IDPMC7253013