Chromatin remodelling factor Mll1 is essential for neurogenesis from postnatal neural stem cells

2009

Epigenetic mechanisms that maintain neurogenesis throughout adult life remain poorly understood(1). Trithorax group (trxG) and Polycomb group (PcG) gene products are part of an evolutionarily conserved chromatin remodelling system that activate or silence gene expression, respectively(2). Although PcG member Bmi1 has been shown to be required for postnatal neural stem cell self-renewal(3,4), the role of trxG genes remains unknown. Here we show that the trxG member Mll1 (mixed-lineage leukaemia 1) is required for neurogenesis in the mouse postnatal brain. Mll1-deficient subventricular zone neural stem cells survive, proliferate and efficiently differentiate into glial lineages; however, neur…