Function of the Ciliopathy gene RPGRIP1L in cortical neurogenesis

Methods We use a mouse knock-out mutant line, Ftm, to identify the role of Rpgrip1l in cortical neurogenesis. Two distinct pools of progenitors undergo extensive cell divisions to form cortical projection neurons. Radial Glial Cells (RGCs) divide either symmetrically to expand the progenitor pool or asymmetrically to self-renew and produce an Intermediate Progenitor Cell (IPC), which divides once to form two neurons. The balance between differentiation and proliferation is coordinated by multiple signalling pathways, among which several depend on the primary cilium.