A2: Neuroepithelial stem cell proliferation versus differentiation and the release of midbody- and primary cilium-derived membrane particles carrying the somatic stem cell marker prominin-1 (CD133)

Project leader: Prof. Dr. W. B. Huttner

At the start of this SFB, we had reported that the ventricular fluid of the embryonic mouse brain contains membrane particles carrying the somatic stem cell marker prominin-1 (CD133), but their origin was unknown. During the first funding period, we have found that these particles are derived from the midbody and primary cilium of neuroepithelial stem cells and that midbody release correlates with stem cell differentiation. We now propose to perform an RNAi screen to identify proteins regulating midbody release and to investigate the role of midbody release and of the cilia-derived vesicles for neuroepithelial stem cell proliferation versus differentiation.