Qi Guanxiao, Yang Danqing, Messore Fernando, Bast Arco, Yáñez Felipe, Oberlaender Marcel, Feldmeyer Dirk
Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine 10, Research Centre Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany.
Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, RWTH University Hospital, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
iScience. 2024 Dec 19;28(1):111646. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.111646. eCollection 2025 Jan 17.
The / gene, linked to fine motor control in vertebrates, is a potential candidate gene thought to play a prominent role in human language production. It is expressed specifically in a subset of corticothalamic (CT) pyramidal cells (PCs) in layer 6 (L6) of the neocortex. These L6 FOXP2+ PCs project exclusively to the thalamus, with L6a PCs targeting first-order or both first- and higher-order thalamic nuclei, whereas L6b PCs connect only to higher-order nuclei. Synaptic connections established by both L6a and L6b FOXP2+ PCs have low release probabilities and respond strongly to acetylcholine (ACh), triggering action potential (AP) trains. Notably, L6b FOXP2- PCs are more sensitive to ACh than L6a, and L6b FOXP2+ PCs also react robustly to dopamine. Thus, FOXP2 labels L6a and L6b CT PCs, which are precisely regulated by neuromodulators, highlighting their roles as potent modulators of thalamic activity.
/基因与脊椎动物的精细运动控制相关，是一个潜在的候选基因，被认为在人类语言产生中发挥重要作用。它在新皮层第6层（L6）的皮质丘脑（CT）锥体细胞（PCs）的一个亚群中特异性表达。这些L6 FOXP2 + PCs仅投射到丘脑，L6a PCs靶向一级丘脑核或一级和高阶丘脑核，而L6b PCs仅连接到高阶核。L6a和L6b FOXP2 + PCs建立的突触连接具有低释放概率，并对乙酰胆碱（ACh）有强烈反应，触发动作电位（AP）序列。值得注意的是，L6b FOXP2 - PCs比L6a对ACh更敏感，并且L6b FOXP2 + PCs对多巴胺也有强烈反应。因此，FOXP2标记L6a和L6b CT PCs，它们受到神经调质的精确调节，突出了它们作为丘脑活动有效调节因子的作用。
