Neural stem cells divide rapidly to grow the brain during development. The Dwyer Lab has discovered a role for the gene Cep55 in ensuring the speed and success rate of these cell divisions. Mutations in human Cep55 cause microcephaly. The Dwyer lab’s recent publication in the Journal of Neuroscience reports their discovery of a role for the gene Cep55 in ensuring the speed and success rate of these cell divisions. In mouse brains lacking Cep55, the last step of cell division (abscission) is delayed and occasionally fails. This can activate a p53 signal for programmed cell death, or another signal to stop dividing. Both these mechanisms prematurely deplete the neural stem cells, and lead to a smaller brain at birth.
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