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ATF4 is required for upper-layer cortical neuron development

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Research area:biology-geneticsmolecular-biology

What the study found

The study found that activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) is an essential regulator of the DNA damage response during brain development. It is specifically required for the development of upper layer 2/3 cortical neurons marked by cut-like homeobox 2 (CUX2).

Why the authors say this matters

The authors conclude that these findings indicate there are extraordinary requirements for DNA repair after replicative stress in CUX2+ neurons during mammalian brain development. The study suggests ATF4 has an important role in managing DNA damage in this setting.

What the researchers tested

The researchers studied mammalian cortical development and examined how ATF4 affects the DNA damage response. They used a pan-cortical knockout model, Emx1-Cre; Atf4 fl/fl, and investigated ATF4 targets involved in double-stranded DNA repair, including CIRBP, UBA52, and EBF1.

What worked and what didn't

ATF4 directly activated components of double-stranded DNA repair, including CIRBP, UBA52, and EBF1. ATF4 also helped repair DNA damage and reduce cell death of embryonic radial glial progenitors in a p53-dependent manner. The study reports that CIRBP, a transcriptional target of ATF4, was required for normal phosphorylation of ATM, a key double-strand DNA repair factor.

What to keep in mind

The abstract does not describe detailed experimental limitations. The findings are presented from the abstracted model and developmental context, so broader scope beyond mammalian brain development is not stated here.

Key points

  • ATF4 was identified as an essential regulator of the DNA damage response.
  • Pan-cortical ATF4 knockout affected the development of upper layer 2/3 CUX2 neurons.
  • ATF4 directly activated DNA repair-related components, including CIRBP, UBA52, and EBF1.
  • ATF4 helped repair DNA damage and reduce cell death in embryonic radial glial progenitors in a p53-dependent manner.
  • CIRBP was required for normal phosphorylation of ATM.

Disclosure

Research title:
ATF4 is required for upper-layer cortical neuron development
Authors:
Wenlong Xia, Laura Morcom, Zhaoyang Xu, I-Ling Lu, Qing Wang, Kimberly K. Hoi, Mingming Wei, Keying Zhu, Gregory E. Jordan, Xiao-Yan Tang, Julio Gonzalez-Maya, Vanesa Mattera, Sophia M. Panigrahi, Riki Kawaguchi, Ben Emery, Santos Franco, Daniel H. Geschwind, Brian Popko, David H. Rowitch, Stephen P.J. Fancy
Institutions:
California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Center for Neurosciences, Northwestern University, Oregon Health & Science University, University of California, Los Angeles, University of California, Los Angeles, University of California, Los Angeles, University of California, San Francisco, University of California, San Francisco, University of California, San Francisco, University of California, San Francisco, University of California, San Francisco, University of California, San Francisco, University of California, San Francisco, University of California, San Francisco, University of California, San Francisco, University of Cambridge, University of Cambridge, University of Cambridge, University of Cambridge, University of Colorado Anschutz, Wellcome/MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Wellcome/MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Wellcome/MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Wellcome/MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute
Publication date:
2026-04-01
DOI:
W7146946498
OpenAlex record:
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AI provenance: This post was generated by gpt-5.4-mini (OpenAI). The original authors did not write or review this post.

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