Spred1, a negative regulator of Ras-MAPK-ERK, is enriched in CNS germinal zones, dampens NSC proliferation, and maintains ventricular zone structure.

Neural stem cells (NSCs) have great potential for self-renewal, which must be tightly regulated to generate appropriate cell numbers during development and to prevent tumor formation. The Ras-MAPK-ERK pathway affects mitogen-stimulated proliferation, and negative regulators are likely to be important for keeping self-renewal in check. Sprouty-related protein with an EVH1 domain (Spred1) is a recently discovered negative Ras-MAPK-ERK regulator linked to a neurofibromatosis 1 (NF-1)-like human syndrome; however, its role in CNS development has not been explored. We show that Spred1 is highly enriched in CNS germinal zones during neurogenesis. Spred1 knockdown increases NSC self-renewal and progenitor proliferation cell-autonomously, and overexpression causes premature differentiation. Surprisingly, Spred1 knockdown in vivo in the embryonic mouse forebrain frequently resulted in periventricular heterotopia, developmental abnormalities often associated with mutations in genes in the vesicular trafficking pathway that cause disruption of germinal zones and impair cell migration. In cortical progenitor cells, Spred1 localizes within distinct vesicles, indicating a potential role in transport. Spred1 knockdown gradually leads to disruption of the apical ventricular zone and loss of radial glia alignment. This impairs late neuronal migration, resulting in the formation of periventricular masses. Thus, Spred1 is critical for normal cortical development, as it modulates progenitor self-renewal/proliferation and helps maintain the integrity and organization of germinal zones.