Translational regulation of cerebral cortex wiring

A mouse embryo’s developing brain builds its neural circuits by controlling when and where individual neurons translate genetic instructions into proteins, not just by switching genes on or off. Scientists know that neurons use dedicated genetic programs to wire the cerebral cortex—the brain’s outer layer responsible for complex behaviour—but they have largely overlooked the role of post-transcriptional regulation, the steps that occur *after* a gene is copied into RNA. This project asks whether two specific post-transcriptional processes—chemical modifications to messenger RNA and the specialisation of ribosomes (the cell’s protein factories)—fine-tune which proteins each neuron makes, and when, to ensure that billions of cells connect correctly during early development. Without this layer of control, the cortex may wire imprecisely, potentially underpinning neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism or epilepsy. This is fundamental science. It will not produce a treatment or diagnostic tomorrow. But understanding how translation shapes cortical wiring could eventually reveal why certain genetic mutations that affect RNA modification or ribosome function lead to brain disorders—and point toward molecular targets for intervention. Past work on post-transcriptional regulation in other contexts, for example, has already reshaped cancer therapy; similar principles may one day apply to the developing brain.