UNC researchers track a gene’s crucial role in orchestrating
the placement of neurons in the developing brain. Their findings help unravel
some of the mysteries of Joubert syndrome and other neurological disorders.
As the brain develops, each neuron must find its way to
precisely the right spot to weave the intricate network of links the brain
needs to function. Like the wiring in a computer, a few misplaced connections
can throw off functioning for an entire segment of the brain.
A new study by researchers at the University of North
Carolina School of Medicine reveals how some nerve cells, called interneurons,
navigate during the development of the cerebral cortex. Mutations in a key gene
behind this navigation system underlie a rare neurological disorder called
Joubert syndrome; a condition linked with autism spectrum disorders and brain
structure malformations.