Laboratory for Cell Asymmetry

Asymmetric division gives rise to two differently fated cells from a single progenitor cell, and is a basic mechanism to generate cellular diversity, which is utilized in a variety of developmental contexts. During our study on genetic programs of Drosophila neural development, we have found that the asymmetric division of neural stem cells plays a pivotal role in specifying neural cell fates. Since then, we have focused on the mechanism of the asymmetric divisions of neural precursor cells and underlying cell polarity. We extend our analysis from Drosophila to vertebrates and aim to understand roles of cellular asymmetry in creating multi-cellular organisms.

Research Subjects

• Genetic programs of neural development
• Asymmetric division of neural stem cells

Publications

1. Yoshiura S, Ohta N, and Matsuzaki F.:
   "Tre1 GPCR Signaling Orients Stem Cell Divisions in the Drosophila Central Nervous System."
   Dev Cell. 22, 79-91 (2012)
2. Kosodo Y, Suetsugu T, Suda M, Mimori-Kiyosue Y, Toida K, Baba SA, Kimura A, and Matsuzaki F.:
   "Regulation of interkinetic nuclear migration by cell cycle-coupled active and passive mechanisms in the developing brain."
   EMBO J. 30, 1690-1704 (2011)
3. Shitamukai A, Konno D, and Matsuzaki F.:
   "Oblique radial glial divisions in the developing mouse neocortex induce self-renewing progenitors outside the germinal zone that resemble primate outer-subventricular zone progenitors."
   J Neurosci. 31, 3683-3695 (2011)
4. Konno D, Shioi G, Shitamukai A, Mori A, Kiyonari H, Miyata T, and Matsuzaki F.:
   "Neuroepithelial progenitors undergo LGN-dependent planar divisions to maintain self-renewability during mammalian neurogenesis."
   Nat Cell Biol. 10, 93-101 (2008)
5. Izumi Y, Ohta N, Hisata K, Raabe T, and Matsuzaki F.:
   "Drosophila Pins-binding protein Mud regulates spindle-polarity coupling and centrosome organization."
   Nat Cell Biol. 8, 586-593 (2006).
6. Izumi Y, Ohta N, Itoh-Furuya A, Fuse N, and Matsuzaki F.:
   "Differential functions of G protein and Baz/aPKC signaling pathways in Drosophila neuroblast asymmetric division"
   J. Cell Biol. 164, 729-738 (2004).
7. Fuse N, Hisata K, Katzen L.A, and Matsuzaki F.:
   "Heterotrimeric G proteins regulate daughter cell size asymmetry in Drosophila neuroblast divisions"
   Curr. Biol. 13, 947-954 (2003).
8. Ohshiro T, Yagami T, Zhang C, and Matsuzaki F.:
   "Role of cortical tumor suppressor proteins in asymmetric division of Drosophila neuroblast"
   Nature, 408, 593-596 (2000).
9. Matsuzaki F, Ohshiro T, Ikeshima-Kataoka H, and Izumi H.:
   "Miranda localizes staufen and prospero asymmetrically in mitotic neuroblasts and epithelial cells in early Drosophila embryogenesis"
   Development, 125, 4089-4098 (1998).
10. Ikeshima-Kataoka H, Skeath J.B, Nabeshima Y, Doe C.Q, and Matsuzaki F.:
    "Miranda directs Prospero to a daughter cell during Drosophila asymmetric divisions"
    Nature, 390, 625-629 (1997).