BBX maintains mammalian brain development by repressing p53-mediated p21 expression.

BBX preserves mammalian brain development by inhibiting the p53-p21-RB pathway, preventing premature cell-cycle exit and senescence in neural stem cells.

• Why it matters: Understanding how neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation are regulated is crucial for insights into cortical development and neurodevelopmental disorders. Disruptions in these processes can lead to abnormal brain structure and function.
• What they did: The study used RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, biochemical assays, and gene knockdowns in mouse embryonic cortex to investigate BBX's role, revealing its interaction with p53 and suppression of p21 expression.
• The result: Findings show that BBX maintains cortical development by restraining the p53-p21-RB axis, enabling proper neural stem cell maintenance, neuronal migration, and cortical organization.