CENTRO DE BIOLOGÍA MOLECULAR SEVERO OCHOACaptura de pantalla 2022 09 14 a las 10.27.10    

Transcriptional control of sexual differentiation of the nervous system

Research summary:

Identifying and understanding the genetic factors linked to neuropsychiatric disorders is a fundamental goal in neuroscience. The nervous system of male and females is sexually different at the molecular and structural levels. These differences lead to sex biases in the age of onset, prevalence, symptomatology and treatment for nearly every neuropsychiatric disorder. The general aim of our laboratory is to decipher the genetic and molecular mechanisms that control sex dependent configurations of the nervous system. Most sex differences are caused by sex hormones, however there is robust evidence that points to genetic factors also contributing to sexual dimorphisms.

The ancient family of DMRT genes encode conserved transcription factors involved in the regulation of sexual features in every animal species so far studied. However, the role of Dmrts in the vertebrate nervous system has not been profusely investigated. We are approaching this question using genetic and genomic approaches in mice. We propose that DMRTs control sex-specific neuron identities and numbers, connectivity and constriction of sexual transcriptional differences in cooperation with sex-linked factors and sex-specific splicing mechanisms. We are also interested in conserved DMRT functions in humans and how specific DMRTs genetic variants could contribute to the onset and sexual bias of psychiatric disorders. Our work will unravel novel principles of brain sexual differentiation and will generate mouse models to better understand genetic mechanisms that either afford protection or generate vulnerability in the etiology and sexual bias of mental disorders.

 

Image

Figure 1. The gates of rodent behaviors (credit: Rafael Casado-Navarro)

Image


* For external calls please dial 34 91196 followed by the extension number
Last nameNameLaboratoryExt.*e-mailProfessional category
Arroyo AlmedaAndrea4204732aarroyo(at)cbm.csic.esM3 Predoc.formación
Bermejo SantosAna4204693abermejo(at)cbm.csic.esTitulado Sup. Actividades Tecn. y Prof.GP1
Casado NavarroRafael4204693rcasado(at)cbm.csic.esTitulado Sup. Actividades Tecn. y Prof.GP1
Olivé RodríguezVirgilia415.14732Estudiante TFM
Rubio GarcíaMiguel4204732mrubio(at)cbm.csic.esBecario JAE Intro
Serrano SáizEsther415.14732 eserrano(at)cbm.csic.esE.Científicos Titulares de Organismos Públicos de Investigación
Torrillas de la CalRodrigo420 4693rtorrillas(at)cbm.csic.esM3 Predoc.formación

Image

Figure 2. Conserved logic of Dmrt in sexually dimorphic circuits in invertebrate nervous systems (Serrano-Saiz & Isogai, 2021)

Relevant publications:

  • Casado-Navarro R and Serrano-Saiz E*. DMRT transcription factors in the control of nervous system sexual differentiation. Front Neuroanat. 2022 Jul 26
  • Martín-Fernández F, Bermejo-Santos A, Bragg-Gonzalo L, Briz CG, Serrano-Saiz E, Nieto M. Role of Nrp1 in controlling cortical inter-hemispheric circuits. eLife, 2022 Mar 1;11:e69776.
  • Serrano-Saiz E and Isogai Y. Single-cell molecular and developmental perspectives of sexually dimorphic circuits underlying innate behaviors. Curr Opinion in Neurobiol. 2021. Jun;68:159-166
  • Pereira L, Aeschimann F, Wang C, Lawson H, Serrano-Saiz E, Portman D, Grosshans H, Hobert O. Timing mechanism of sexually dimorphic nervous system differentiation. eLife, 2019 Jan 1;8.
  • Serrano-Saiz E*, Leyva-Diaz E, De la Cruz E, Hobert O*. BRN3A-type POU homeobox genes maintain the identity of mature postmitotic neurons in nematodes and mice. Current Biology, 2018 Sep 10;28(17):2813-2823
  • Serrano-Saiz E*, Oren-Suissa M and Hobert O*. Sexually dimorphic differentiation of a elegans hub neuron is cell-autonomously controlled by a conserved transcription factor. Current Biology, 2017 Jan 23;27(2):199-209. (F1000 recommended)
  • Serrano-Saiz E*, Poole R, Felton T, Feifan Zhang, De la Cruz E, Hobert O*. Modular control of glutamatergic neuronal identity in C. elegans by distinct homeodomain proteins. Cell, 2013 Oct 24;155(3):659-73
* Corresponding author

Funding:

Other merits:

NOTE! This site uses cookies and similar technologies.

If you not change browser settings, you agree to it. Learn more

I understand

COOKIES POLICY

What are cookies?

A cookie is a file that is downloaded to your computer when you access certain web pages. Cookies allow a web page, among other things, to store and retrieve information about the browsing habits of a user or their equipment and, depending on the information they contain and the way they use their equipment, they can be used to recognize the user.

Types of cookies

Classification of cookies is made according to a series of categories. However, it is necessary to take into account that the same cookie can be included in more than one category.

  1. Cookies according to the entity that manages them

    Depending on the entity that manages the computer or domain from which the cookies are sent and treat the data obtained, we can distinguish:

    • Own cookies: those that are sent to the user's terminal equipment from a computer or domain managed by the editor itself and from which the service requested by the user is provided.
    • Third party cookies: those that are sent to the user's terminal equipment from a computer or domain that is not managed by the publisher, but by another entity that processes the data obtained through the cookies. When cookies are installed from a computer or domain managed by the publisher itself, but the information collected through them is managed by a third party, they cannot be considered as own cookies.

  2. Cookies according to the period of time they remain activated

    Depending on the length of time that they remain activated in the terminal equipment, we can distinguish:

    • Session cookies: type of cookies designed to collect and store data while the user accesses a web page. They are usually used to store information that only is kept to provide the service requested by the user on a single occasion (e.g. a list of products purchased).
    • Persistent cookies: type of cookies in which the data is still stored in the terminal and can be accessed and processed during a period defined by the person responsible for the cookie, which can range from a few minutes to several years.

  3. Cookies according to their purpose

    Depending on the purpose for which the data obtained through cookies are processed, we can distinguish between:

    • Technical cookies: those that allow the user to navigate through a web page, platform or application and the use of different options or services that exist in it, such as controlling traffic and data communication, identifying the session, access to restricted access parts, remember the elements that make up an order, perform the purchase process of an order, make a registration or participation in an event, use security elements during navigation, store content for the broadcast videos or sound or share content through social networks.
    • Personalization cookies: those that allow the user to access the service with some predefined general characteristics based on a series of criteria in the user's terminal, such as the language, the type of browser through which the user accesses the service, the regional configuration from where you access the service, etc.
    • Analytical cookies: those that allow the person responsible for them to monitor and analyse the behaviour of the users of the websites to which they are linked. The information collected through this type of cookies is used in the measurement of the activity of the websites, applications or platforms, and for the elaboration of navigation profiles of the users of said sites, applications and platforms, in order to introduce improvements in the analysis of the data of use made by the users of the service.

Cookies used on our website

The CBMSO website uses Google Analytics. Google Analytics is a simple and easy to use tool that helps website owners to measure how users interact with the content of the site. You can consult more information about the cookies used by Google Analitycs in this link.

Acceptance of the Cookies Policy

The CBMSO assumes that you accept the use of cookies if you continue browsing, considering that it is a conscious and positive action from which the user's consent is inferred. In this regard, you are previously informed that such behaviour will be interpreted that you accept the installation and use of cookies.

Knowing this information, it is possible to carry out the following actions:

  • Accept cookies: if the user presses the acceptance button, this warning will not be displayed again when accessing any page of the portal.
  • Review the cookies policy: the user can access to this page in which the use of cookies is detailed, as well as links to modify the browser settings.

How to modify the configuration of cookies

Using your browser you can restrict, block or delete cookies from any web page. In each browser the process is different, here we show you links on this particular of the most used browsers:

fondosocialeuropeo-300px.png
Ministerio-de-Ciencia-e-Innovacin-600px.png
Comunidad-de-Madrid-600Bpx.png
agenda20-30-600px.png
fundacion-areces600px0710.png
LOGO_ERC.jpg
hrexcellence.jpg
worldwidecancerresearch-600px0710.png
aecc-600tpx.png
bbva-fund-400.png
Niemann-Pick-400px.png
wilderfund-400px.png
AliciaKoplowitz-400px.png
la-caixa-fund-600px.png
inocente-inocente-600px.png
cure-alzheimers-fund-600px.png
citrin-foundation.png
tatiana-fund02-600bpx1.png
campus-excelencia-600x400px.png
fundacion-uno-entre-cien-mil-v02.png