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Lines of investigation
The proper development and connectivity of an adult brain need the extension and guide of neuronal axons to their targets where they will establish appropriate synapses. We are interested in the molecular mechanisms underlying axon guidance and target recognition during the development of the nervous system. We focus on the binary decision of crossing or not the midline that many different types of axons must take at some point of their trajectory and how later they reach their final targets at both sides of the brain and once there, sensory information from both brain hemispheres is integrated and processed. Many features of mature neural function, including the interpretation of sensory information and the coordination of locomotion, depend on coherent communication between the two halves of the nervous system. Therefore, the correct formation of bilateral circuits is essential for the perfect functioning of the mature brain. To understand the mechanisms underlying the development of bilateral circuits our group applies a multidisciplinary set of approaches ranging from mouse genetics, anatomic studies and gene delivery in vivo and in vitro using the mouse visual system as a model.
Representative Publications
- Multiomic Analysis of Neurons with Divergent Projection Patterns Identifies Novel Regulators of Axon Pathfinding Fernández-Nogales, M., López-Cascales, M.T., Murcia-Belmonte, V., Escalante, A., Fernández-Albert, J., Muñoz-Viana, R., Barco, A., Herrera, E. Advanced Science 2022 9 (29): art. 2200615 https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202200615
- A Retino-retinal Projection Guided by Unc5c Emerged in Species with Retinal Waves Murcia-Belmonte V, Coca Y, Vegar C, Negueruela S, de Juan Romero C, Valiño AJ, Sala S, DaSilva R, Kania A, Borrell V, Martinez LM, Erskine L, Herrera E Current Biology 2019 29(7):1149 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2019.02.052
- The peripheral eye: A neurogenic area with potential to treat retinal pathologies? Fernandez-Nogales M, Murcia-Belmonte V, Chen HY, Herrera E Progress in Retinal and Eye Research 2019 68:110 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.preteyeres.2018.09.001
- The Ciliary Margin Zone of the Mammalian Retina Generates Retinal Ganglion Cells Marcucci F, Murcia-Belmonte V, Wang Q, Coca Y, Ferreiro-Galve S, Kuwajima T, Khalid S, Ross ME, Mason C, Herrera E Cell Rep 2016 17(12):3153 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2016.11.016
- Zic2-Dependent Axon Midline Avoidance Controls the Formation of Major Ipsilateral Tracts in the CNS Escalante A, Murillo B, Morenilla-Palao C, Klar A, Herrera E Neuron 2013 80(6):1392 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2013.10.007
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- CyclinD2-mediated regulation of neurogenic output from the retinal ciliary margin is perturbed in albinism. Slavi, N., Balasubramanian, R., Lee, M.A., Liapin, M., Oaks-Leaf, R., Peregrin, J., Potenski, A., Troy, C.M., Ross, M.E., Herrera, E., Kosmidis, S., John, S.W.M., Mason, C.A. Neuron 2023 111(1): 49-64.e5 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2022.10.025
- Editorial – Friedrich Bonhoeffer (1932-2021). Klein, R., Wilkinson, D., Herrera, E. Neuroscience 2023 508: 1-2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.11.019
- Transcriptional Control of Axon Guidance at Midline Structures. Herrera E, Escalante A Front Cell Dev Biol. 2022 10: art 840005 https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2022.840005
- Multiomic Analysis of Neurons with Divergent Projection Patterns Identifies Novel Regulators of Axon Pathfinding Fernández-Nogales, M., López-Cascales, M.T., Murcia-Belmonte, V., Escalante, A., Fernández-Albert, J., Muñoz-Viana, R., Barco, A., Herrera, E. Advanced Science 2022 9 (29): art. 2200615 https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202200615
- CBP and p300 Jointly Maintain Neural Progenitor Viability but Play Unique Roles in the Differentiation of Neural Lineages. González-Martínez, R., Márquez-Galera, A., Del Blanco, B., López-Atalaya, J.P., Barco, A., Herrera, E. Cells 2022 11(24): 4118 https://doi.org/10.3390/cells11244118
- Bilateral visual projections exist in non-teleost bony fish and predate the emergence of tetrapods Vigouroux RJ, Duroure K, Vougny J, Albadri S, Kozulin P, Herrera E, Nguyen-Ba-Charvet K, Braasch I, Suárez R, Del Bene F, Chédotal A Science 2021 372(6538):150 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abe7790
- Non-productive angiogenesis disassembles ASS plaque-associated blood vessels Alvarez-Vergara MI, Rosales-Nieves AE, March-Diaz R, Rodriguez-Perinan G, Lara-Ureña N, Ortega-de San Luis C, Sanchez-Garcia MA, Martin-Bornez M, Gómez-Gálvez P, Vicente-Munuera P, Fernandez-Gomez B, Marchena MA, Bullones-Bolanos AS, Davila JC, Gonzalez-Martinez R, Trillo-Contreras JL, Sanchez-Hidalgo AC, Del Toro R, Scholl FG, Herrera E, Trepel M, Körbelin J, Escudero LM, Villadiego J, Echevarria M, de Castro F, Gutierrez A, Rabano A, Vitorica J, Pascual A Nat Commun 2021 12(1):3098 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23337-z
- Virtual meeting, real and sound science: report of the 17th Meeting of the Spanish Society for Developmental Biology (SEBD-2020) Virtual Meeting. 18th to 20th November 2020 Araújo SJ, Almudi I, Bozal-Basterra L, Casares F, Casas-Tintó S, Escalante A, García-Moreno F, Losada-Pérez M, Maeso I, Marcon L, Ocaña O, Pampliega O, Rada-Iglesias Á, Rayon T, Sharpe J, Sutherland JD, Villa Del Campo C, Barrio R Int J Dev Biol 2021 65(7-9):457 https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.210005rb
- With the Permission of Microtubules: An Updated Overview on Microtubule Function During Axon Pathfinding Sánchez-Huertas C, Herrera E Front Mol Neurosci 2021 14:759404 https://doi.org/10.3389/fnmol.2021.759404
- A Zic2-regulated switch in a noncanonical Wnt/betacatenin pathway is essential for the formation of bilateral circuits Morenilla-Palao C, López-Cascales MT, López-Atalaya JP, Baeza D, Calvo-Díaz L, Barco A, Herrera E Sci Adv 2020 6(46):eaaz8797 https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aaz8797
- Functional Heterogeneity of Mouse and Human Brain OPCs: Relevance for Preclinical Studies in Multiple Sclerosis Bribián A, Medina-Rodríguez EM, Josa-Prado F, García-Álvarez I, Machín-Díaz I, Esteban PF, Murcia-Belmonte V, Vega-Zelaya L, Pastor J, Garrido L, de Castro F J Clin Med 2020 9(6):1681 https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm9061681
- New techniques for studying neurodevelopment Escalante A, González-Martínez R, Herrera E Fac Rev 2020 9:17 https://doi.org/10.12703/r/9-17
- A Retino-retinal Projection Guided by Unc5c Emerged in Species with Retinal Waves Murcia-Belmonte V, Coca Y, Vegar C, Negueruela S, de Juan Romero C, Valiño AJ, Sala S, DaSilva R, Kania A, Borrell V, Martinez LM, Erskine L, Herrera E Current Biology 2019 29(7):1149 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2019.02.052
- Cranial Pair II: The Optic Nerves Herrera E, Agudo-Barriuso M, Murcia-Belmonte V Anatomical Record 2019 302(3):428 https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.23922
- Guidance of retinal axons in mammals Herrera E, Erskine L, Morenilla-Palao C Semin Cell Dev Biol 2019 85:48 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semcdb.2017.11.027
- The peripheral eye: A neurogenic area with potential to treat retinal pathologies? Fernandez-Nogales M, Murcia-Belmonte V, Chen HY, Herrera E Progress in Retinal and Eye Research 2019 68:110 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.preteyeres.2018.09.001
- Wiring the Binocular Visual Pathways Murcia-Belmonte V, Erskine L Int Journal of Molecular Sciences 2019 20(13):3282 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20133282
- Rodent Zic Genes in Neural Network Wiring Herrera, Eloisa ZIC FAMILY: EVOLUTION, DEVELOPMENT AND DISEASE 2018 1046:209 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-7311-3_11
- Roof Plate-Derived Radial Glial-like Cells Support Developmental Growth of Rapidly Adapting Mechanoreceptor Ascending Axons Kridsada K, Niu J, Haldipur P, Wang Z, Ding L, Li JJ, Lindgren AG, Herrera E, Thomas GM, Chizhikov VV, Millen KJ, Luo W Cell Rep 2018 23(10):2928 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2018.05.025
- Shh-ushing Midline Crossing through Remote Protein Transport Herrera E, Sitko AA, Bovolenta P Neuron 2018 97(2):256 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2018.01.001
- Cerebellar Transplantation: A Potential Model to Study Repair and Development of Neurons and Circuits in the Cerebellum Sotelo, C Contemporary Clinical Neuroscience 2017 21:465 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59749-2_22
- Genetic maps and patterns of cerebral cortex folding de Juan Romero C, Borrell V Curr Opin Cell Biol 2017 49:31 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceb.2017.11.009
- Time-Lapse Imaging and Cell Tracking of Migrating Cells in Slices and Flattened Telencephalic Vesicles Murcia-Belmonte V, Exposito G, Herrera E Curr Protoc Neurosci 2017 79:3.31.1 https://doi.org/10.1002/cpns.24
- Zic-Proteins Are Repressors of Dopaminergic Forebrain Fate in Mice and C elegans Tiveron MC, Beclin C, Murgan S, Wild S, Angelova A, Marc J, Core N, de Chevigny A, Herrera E, Bosio A, Bertrand V, Cremer H J Neurosci 2017 37(44):10611 https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3888-16.2017
- Anosmin 1 Interacts with the Prokineticin Receptor 2 In Vitro Indicating a Molecular Link Between Both Proteins in the Pathogenesis of Kallmann Syndrome Murcia-Belmonte V, Astillero-Lopez V, Esteban PF Protein Pept Lett 2016 23(7):650
- Anosmin-1 over-expression increases adult neurogenesis in the subventricular zone and neuroblast migration to the olfactory bulb Garcia-Gonzalez D, Murcia-Belmonte V, Esteban PF, Ortega F, Diaz D, Sanchez-Vera I, Lebron-Galan R, Escobar-Castañondo L, Martinez-Millan L, Weruaga E, Garcia-Verdugo JM, Berninger B, de Castro F Brain Struct Funct 2016 221(1):239 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-014-0904-8
- Anosmin-1 over-expression regulates oligodendrocyte precursor cell proliferation, migration and myelin sheath thickness Murcia-Belmonte V, Esteban PF, Martinez-Hernandez J, Gruart A, Lujan R, Delgado-Garcia JM, de Castro F Brain Struct Funct 2016 221(3):1365 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-014-0977-4
- The Ciliary Margin Zone of the Mammalian Retina Generates Retinal Ganglion Cells Marcucci F, Murcia-Belmonte V, Wang Q, Coca Y, Ferreiro-Galve S, Kuwajima T, Khalid S, Ross ME, Mason C, Herrera E Cell Rep 2016 17(12):3153 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2016.11.016
- Fine-tuned SRF activity controls asymmetrical neuronal outgrowth: implications for cortical migration, neural tissue lamination and circuit assembly Scandaglia M, Benito E, Morenilla-Palao C, Fiorenza F, del Blanco B, Coca Y, Herrera E, Barco A Sci Rep 2015 5:17470 https://doi.org/10.1038/srep17470
- Zic2 Controls the Migration of Specific Neuronal Populations in the Developing Forebrain Murillo B, Ruiz-Reig N, Herrera M, Fairen A, Herrera E J Neurosci 2015 35(32):11266 https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0779-15.2015
- Connecting the Retina to the Brain Erskine L, Herrera E ASN Neuro 2014 6(6):1759091414562107 https://doi.org/10.1177/1759091414562107
- Shh/Boc signaling is required for sustained generation of ipsilateral projecting ganglion cells in the mouse retina Sanchez-Arrones L, Nieto-Lopez F, Sanchez-Camacho C, Carreres MI, Herrera E, Okada A, Bovolenta P J Neurosci 2013 33(20):8596 https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2083-12.2013
- Uncoupling of EphA/ephrinA signaling and spontaneous activity in neural circuit wiring Benjumeda I, Escalante A, Law C, Morales D, Chauvin G, Muca G, Coca Y, Lopez-Bendito G, Kania A, Martinez-Otero L, Herrera E J Neurosci 2013 33(46):18208 https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1931-13.2013
- Zic2-Dependent Axon Midline Avoidance Controls the Formation of Major Ipsilateral Tracts in the CNS Escalante A, Murillo B, Morenilla-Palao C, Klar A, Herrera E Neuron 2013 80(6):1392 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuron.2013.10.007
- Transcription Factor Foxd1 Is Required for the Specification of the Temporal Retina in Mammals Carreres MI, Escalante A, Murillo B, Chauvin G, Gaspar P, Vegar C, Herrera E J Neurosci 2011 31(15):5673 https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0394-11.2011
- Zic2 regulates the expression of Sert to modulate eye-specific refinement at the visual targets Garcia-Frigola C, Herrera E EMBO J 2010 29(18):3170 https://doi.org/10.1038/emboj.2010.172
