The ups and downs of Pax6 in neural stem cells

Neural stem cells must rapidly adapt their transcriptional activity to the ever-changing embryonic environment. Currently, we have a limited understanding of how key transcription factors such as Pax6 are modulated at the protein level. In a recent issue of the JBC, Dong et al identified a novel posttranslational regulatory mechanism in which Kat2amediated lysine acetylation on Pax6 leads to its ubiquitination and ultimately its degradation via the proteasome pathway, thereby determining whether neural stem cells undergo proliferation or neuronal differentiation.

Automated summary

Neural stem cells need to adapt quickly to the changing environment during embryonic development, but the regulation of key transcription factors such as Pax6 at the protein level is not well understood. In a recent study published in the JBC, Dong et al identified a novel posttranslational regulatory mechanism where Kat2a-mediated lysine acetylation leads to ubiquitination and degradation of Pax6, determining whether neural stem cells undergo proliferation or neuronal differentiation via the proteasome pathway.