Work

Neural stem cell fate: a tango of mechanics and genetics

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Our body is shaped during development under the control of genetic programs, but also under the influence of mechanical forces. Tissue growth and form is limited, biased and even instructed by mechanical forces. Brain development is also under the influence of mechanical forces, but the extent of their effect, and the interplay with genetic programs, remain fundamentally unknown. New research in EMBO Reports (Lampersperger et al, 2026) demonstrates that mechanical forces acting on human neural stem cells (NSCs) bias their cell fate, supporting a key role for mechanics in brain morphogenesis. A new study sheds light on the functional interplay between mechanical forces and molecular signals during early brain development.

Source: EMBO Reports

DOI: 10.1038/s44319-026-00718-3

Authors: Mireia Pampols-Perez, Víctor Borrell

Institutions: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Instituto de Neurociencias

Language: English

Topic: Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms

Subfield: Developmental Neuroscience

Field: Neuroscience

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $7,990

Funders: European Research Council, Agencia Estatal de Investigación, HORIZON EUROPE European Research Council