Analysis of gene networks in cerebellar development

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to provide a brief overview of the major gene networks that control cerebellum development. To simplify this task, all developmental control genes relevant to the cerebellum have been grouped into four categories based on 13 spontaneous mouse mutations with cerebellar developmental defects and for which the aberrant gene has been identified. These categories include genetic switch genes and genes for morphogenesis, physiology, and metabolism. Three distinct gene targetome studies are discussed in order to introduce some signature networks of major importance to cerebellum development based on the genetic switches En2, Atoh1 (Math1), and Rora (RORα). Similarly, array approaches have begun to reveal gene expression changes due to mutations in physiology and metabolism genes, such as Kcnj6 (Girk2) and Agtpbp1 (Nna1), respectively. These studies are revealing the interplay between transcription, morphogenetic factors, physiology, and metabolism during development. Lastly, genomics and informatics approaches are uncovering new markers of all cerebellar cell types at all stages that will be useful in the future for further clarifying the complex and often reciprocal nature of developmental mechanisms in the nervous system.