Identification of new targets for glioblastoma therapy based on a DNA expression microarray.

This study provides a comprehensive perspective on the deregulated pathways and impaired biological functions prevalent in human glioblastoma (GBM). In order to characterize differences in gene expression between individuals diagnosed with GBM and healthy brain tissue, we have designed and manufactured a specific, custom DNA microarray. The results obtained from differential gene expression analysis were validated by RT-qPCR. The datasets obtained from the analysis of common differential expressed genes in our cohort of patients were used to generate protein-protein interaction networks of functionally enriched genes and their biological functions. This network analysis, let us to identify 16 genes that exhibited either up-regulation (CDK4, MYC, FOXM1, FN1, E2F7, HDAC1, TNC, LAMC1, EIF4EBP1 and ITGB3) or down-regulation (PRKACB, MEF2C, CAMK2B, MAPK3, MAP2K1 and PENK) in all GBM patients. Further investigation of these genes and enriched pathways uncovered in this investigation promises to serve as a foundational step in advancing our comprehension of the molecular mechanisms underpinning GBM pathogenesis. Consequently, the present work emphasizes the critical role that the unveiled molecular pathways likely play in shaping innovative therapeutic approaches for GBM management. We finally proposed in this study a list of compounds that target hub of GBM-related genes, some of which are already in clinical use, underscoring the potential of those genes as targets for GBM treatment.

Citrullinating enzyme PADI4 and transcriptional repressor RING1B bind in cancer cells.

Polycomb groups (PcGs) are transcriptional repressors, formed by a complex of several proteins, involved in multicellular development and cancer epigenetics. One of these proteins is the E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase RING1 (or RING1B), associated with the regulation of transcriptional repression and responsible for monoubiquitylation of the histone H2A. On the other hand, PADI4 is one of the human isoforms of a family of enzymes implicated in the conversion of arginine to citrulline, and it is also involved in the development of glioblastoma, among other types of cancers. In this work, we showed the association of PADI4 and RING1B in the nucleus and cytosol in several cancer cell lines by using immunofluorescence and proximity ligation assays. Furthermore, we demonstrated that binding was hampered in the presence of GSK484, an enzymatic PADI4 inhibitor, suggesting that RING1B could bind to the active site of PADI4, as confirmed by protein-protein docking simulations. In vitro and in silico findings showed that binding to PADI4 occurred for the isolated fragments corresponding to both the N-terminal (residues 1-221) and C-terminal (residues 228-336) regions of RING1B. Binding to PADI4 was also hampered by GSK484, as shown by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) experiments for the sole N-terminal region, and by both NMR and ITC for the C-terminal one. The dissociation constants between PADI4 and any of the two isolated RING1B fragments were in the low micromolar range (~2-10 µM), as measured by fluorescence and ITC. The interaction between RING1B and PADI4 might imply citrullination of the former, leading to several biological consequences, as well as being of potential therapeutic relevance for improving cancer treatment with the generation of new antigens.

Gene regulatory landscape of cerebral cortex folding.

Folding of the cerebral cortex is a key aspect of mammalian brain development and evolution, and defects are linked to severe neurological disorders. Primary folding occurs in highly stereotyped patterns that are predefined in the cortical germinal zones by a transcriptomic protomap. The gene regulatory landscape governing the emergence of this folding protomap remains unknown. We characterized the spatiotemporal dynamics of gene expression and active epigenetic landscape (H3K27ac) across prospective folds and fissures in ferret. Our results show that the transcriptomic protomap begins to emerge at early embryonic stages, and it involves cell-fate signaling pathways. The H3K27ac landscape reveals developmental cell-fate restriction and engages known developmental regulators, including the transcription factor Cux2. Manipulating Cux2 expression in cortical progenitors changed their proliferation and the folding pattern in ferret, caused by selective transcriptional changes as revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing analyses. Our findings highlight the key relevance of epigenetic mechanisms in defining the patterns of cerebral cortex folding.

Unveiling the Binding between the Armadillo-Repeat Domain of Plakophilin 1 and the Intrinsically Disordered Transcriptional Repressor RYBP.

Plakophilin 1 (PKP1), a member of the p120ctn subfamily of the armadillo (ARM)-repeat-containing proteins, is an important structural component of cell-cell adhesion scaffolds although it can also be ubiquitously found in the cytoplasm and the nucleus. RYBP (RING 1A and YY1 binding protein) is a multifunctional intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) best described as a transcriptional regulator. Both proteins are involved in the development and metastasis of several types of tumors. We studied the binding of the armadillo domain of PKP1 (ARM-PKP1) with RYBP by using in cellulo methods, namely immunofluorescence (IF) and proximity ligation assay (PLA), and in vitro biophysical techniques, namely fluorescence, far-ultraviolet (far-UV) circular dichroism (CD), and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). We also characterized the binding of the two proteins by using in silico experiments. Our results showed that there was binding in tumor and non-tumoral cell lines. Binding in vitro between the two proteins was also monitored and found to occur with a dissociation constant in the low micromolar range (~10 µM). Finally, in silico experiments provided additional information on the possible structure of the binding complex, especially on the binding ARM-PKP1 hot-spot. Our findings suggest that RYBP might be a rescuer of the high expression of PKP1 in tumors, where it could decrease the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in some cancer cells.

New insights into cancer: MDM2 binds to the citrullinating enzyme PADI4.

PADI4 is one of the human isoforms of a family of enzymes implicated in the conversion of arginine to citrulline. MDM2 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase which is crucial for down-regulation of degradation of the tumor suppressor gene p53. Given the relationship between both PADI4 and MDM2 with p53-signaling pathways, we hypothesized they may interact directly, and this interaction could be relevant in the context of cancer. Here, we showed their association in the nucleus and cytosol in several cancer cell lines. Furthermore, binding was hampered in the presence of GSK484, an enzymatic PADI4 inhibitor, suggesting that MDM2 could bind to the active site of PADI4, as confirmed by in silico experiments. In vitro and in silico studies showed that the isolated N-terminal region of MDM2, N-MDM2, interacted with PADI4, and residues Thr26, Val28, Phe91 and Lys98 were more affected by the presence of the enzyme. Moreover, the dissociation constant between N-MDM2 and PADI4 was comparable to the IC50 of GSK484 from in cellulo experiments. The interaction between MDM2 and PADI4 might imply MDM2 citrullination, with potential therapeutic relevance for improving cancer treatment, due to the generation of new antigens.

The intrinsically disordered, epigenetic factor RYBP binds to the citrullinating enzyme PADI4 in cancer cells.

RYBP (Ring1 and YY 1 binding protein) is a multifunctional, intrinsically disordered protein (IDP), best described as a transcriptional regulator. It exhibits a ubiquitin-binding functionality, binds to other transcription factors, and has a key role during embryonic development. RYBP, which folds upon binding to DNA, has a Zn-finger domain at its N-terminal region. By contrast, PADI4 is a well-folded protein and it is one the human isoforms of a family of enzymes implicated in the conversion of arginine to citrulline. As both proteins intervene in signaling pathways related to cancer development and are found in the same localizations within the cell, we hypothesized they may interact. We observed their association in the nucleus and cytosol in several cancer cell lines, by using immunofluorescence (IF) and proximity ligation assays (PLAs). Binding also occurred in vitro, as measured by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and fluorescence, with a low micromolar affinity (~1 µM). AlphaFold2-multimer (AF2) results indicate that PADI4's catalytic domain interacts with the Arg53 of RYBP docking into its active site. As RYBP sensitizes cells to PARP (Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase) inhibitors, we applied them in combination with an enzymatic inhibitor of PADI4 observing a change in cell proliferation, and the hampering of the interaction of both proteins. This study unveils for the first time the possible citrullination of an IDP, and suggests that this new interaction, whether it involves or not citrullination of RYBP, might have implications in cancer development and progression.

Structural basis of envelope and phase intrinsic coupling modes in the cerebral cortex.

Intrinsic coupling modes (ICMs) can be observed in ongoing brain activity at multiple spatial and temporal scales. Two families of ICMs can be distinguished: phase and envelope ICMs. The principles that shape these ICMs remain partly elusive, in particular their relation to the underlying brain structure. Here we explored structure-function relationships in the ferret brain between ICMs quantified from ongoing brain activity recorded with chronically implanted micro-ECoG arrays and structural connectivity (SC) obtained from high-resolution diffusion MRI tractography. Large-scale computational models were used to explore the ability to predict both types of ICMs. Importantly, all investigations were conducted with ICM measures that are sensitive or insensitive to volume conduction effects. The results show that both types of ICMs are significantly related to SC, except for phase ICMs when using measures removing zero-lag coupling. The correlation between SC and ICMs increases with increasing frequency which is accompanied by reduced delays. Computational models produced results that were highly dependent on the specific parameter settings. The most consistent predictions were derived from measures solely based on SC. Overall, the results demonstrate that patterns of cortical functional coupling as reflected in both phase and envelope ICMs are both related, albeit to different degrees, to the underlying structural connectivity in the cerebral cortex.

New therapy for pancreatic cancer based on extracellular vesicles.

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC), is the most common aggressive cancer of the pancreas. The standard care of PDAC includes tumor resection and chemotherapy, but the lack of early diagnosis and the limited response to the treatment worsens the patient's condition. In order to improve the efficiency of chemotherapy, we look for more efficient systems of drug delivery. We isolated and fully characterized small Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) from the RWP-1 cell line. Our study indicates that the direct incubation method was the most efficient loading protocol and that a minimum total amount of drug triggers an effect on tumor cells. Therefore, we loaded the small EVs with two chemotherapeutic drugs (Temozolomide and EPZ015666) by direct incubation method and the amount of drug loaded was measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Finally, we tested their antiproliferative effect on different cancer cell lines. Moreover, the system is highly dependent on the drug structure and therefore RWP-1 small EVsTMZ were more efficient than RWP-1 small EVsEPZ015666. RWP-1 derived small EVs represent a promising drug delivery tool that can be further investigated in preclinical studies and its combination with PRMT5 inhibitor can be potentially developed in clinical trials for the treatment of PDAC.

Intrinsically Disordered Chromatin Protein NUPR1 Binds to the Enzyme PADI4.

The nuclear protein 1 (NUPR1) is an intrinsically disordered protein involved in stress-mediated cellular conditions. Its paralogue nuclear protein 1-like (NUPR1L) is p53-regulated, and its expression down-regulates that of the NUPR1 gene. Peptidyl-arginine deiminase 4 (PADI4) is an isoform of a family of enzymes catalyzing arginine to citrulline conversion; it is also involved in stress-mediated cellular conditions. We characterized the interaction between NUPR1 and PADI4 in vitro, in silico, and in cellulo. The interaction of NUPR1 and PADI4 occurred with a dissociation constant of 18 ± 6 µM. The binding region of NUPR1, mapped by NMR, was a hydrophobic polypeptide patch surrounding the key residue Ala33, as pinpointed by: (i) computational results; and, (ii) site-directed mutagenesis of residues of NUPR1. The association between PADI4 and wild-type NUPR1 was also assessed in cellulo by using proximity ligation assays (PLAs) and immunofluorescence (IF), and it occurred mainly in the nucleus. Moreover, binding between NUPR1L and PADI4 also occurred in vitro with an affinity similar to that of NUPR1. Molecular modelling provided information on the binding hot spot for PADI4. This is an example of a disordered partner of PADI4, whereas its other known interacting proteins are well-folded. Altogether, our results suggest that the NUPR1/PADI4 complex could have crucial functions in modulating DNA-repair, favoring metastasis, or facilitating citrullination of other proteins.

Glioblastoma-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles: Nanoparticles for Glioma Treatment.

Glioblastoma (GBM), characterized by fast growth and invasion into adjacent tissue, is the most aggressive cancer of brain origin. Current protocols, which include cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents, effectively treat localized disease; however, these aggressive therapies present side effects due to the high doses administered. Therefore, more efficient ways of drug delivery have been studied to reduce the therapeutic exposure of the patients. We have isolated and fully characterized small extracellular vesicles (EVs) from seven patient-derived GBM cell lines. After loading them with two different drugs, Temozolomide (TMZ) and EPZ015666, we observed a reduction in the total amount of drugs needed to trigger an effect on tumor cells. Moreover, we observed that GBM-derived small EVs, although with lower target specificity, can induce an effect on pancreatic cancer cell death. These results suggest that GBM-derived small EVs represent a promising drug delivery tool for further preclinical studies and potentially for the clinical development of GBM treatments.

The armadillo-repeat domain of Plakophilin 1 binds to human enzyme PADI4.

Plakophilin 1 (PKP1), a member of the armadillo repeat family of proteins, is a key structural component of cell-cell adhesion scaffolds, although it can also be found in other cell locations, including the cytoplasm and the nucleus. PADI4 (peptidyl-arginine deiminase 4) is one of the human isoforms of a family of enzymes engaged in the conversion of arginine to citrulline, and is present in monocytes, macrophages, granulocytes, and in several types of cancer cells. It is the only family member observed both within the nucleus and the cytoplasm under ordinary conditions. We studied the binding of the armadillo domain of PKP1 (ARM-PKP1) with PADI4, by using several biophysical methods, namely fluorescence, far-ultraviolet (far-UV) circular dichroism (CD), isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and molecular simulations; furthermore, binding was also tested by Western-blot (WB) analyses. Our results show that there was binding between the two proteins, with a dissociation constant in the low micromolar range (∼ 1 µM). Molecular modelling provided additional information on the possible structure of the binding complex, and especially on the binding hot-spot predicted for PADI4. This is the first time that the interaction between these two proteins has been described and studied. Our findings could be of importance to understand the development of tumors, where PKP1 and PADI4 are involved. Moreover, our findings pave the way to describe the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), whose construction is modulated by PADI4, and which mediate the proteolysis of cell-cell junctions where PKP1 intervenes.

Human Enzyme PADI4 Binds to the Nuclear Carrier Importin α3.

PADI4 is a peptidyl-arginine deiminase (PADI) involved in the conversion of arginine to citrulline. PADI4 is present in macrophages, monocytes, granulocytes, and several cancer cells. It is the only PADI family member observed within both the nucleus and the cytoplasm. PADI4 has a predicted nuclear localization sequence (NLS) comprising residues Pro56 to Ser83, to allow for nuclear translocation. Recent predictors also suggest that the region Arg495 to Ile526 is a possible NLS. To understand how PADI4 is involved in cancer, we studied the ability of intact PADI4 to bind importin α3 (Impα3), a nuclear transport factor that plays tumor-promoting roles in several cancers, and its truncated species (ΔImpα3) without the importin-binding domain (IBB), by using fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD), and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Furthermore, the binding of two peptides, encompassing the first and the second NLS regions, was also studied using the same methods and molecular docking simulations. PADI4 interacted with both importin species, with affinity constants of ~1-5 µM. The isolated peptides also interacted with both importins. The molecular simulations predict that the anchoring of both peptides takes place in the major binding site of Impα3 for the NLS of cargo proteins. These findings suggest that both NLS regions were essentially responsible for the binding of PADI4 to the two importin species. Our data are discussed within the framework of a cell mechanism of nuclear transport that is crucial in cancer.

Biomedical application of small extracellular vesicles in cancer treatment.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are produced by almost all cell types in vivo or in vitro. Among them, exosomes are small nanovesicles with a lipid bilayer, proteins and RNAs actively involved in cellular communication, suggesting that they may be used both as biomarkers and for therapeutic purposes in diseases such as cancer. Moreover, the idea of using them as drug delivery vehicle arises as a promising field of study. Here, we reviewed recent findings showing the importance of EVs, with special focus in exosomes as biomarkers including the most relevant proteins found in different cancer types and it is discussed the FDA approved tests which use exosomes in clinical practice. Finally, we present an overview of the different chimeric EVs developed in the last few years, demonstrating that they can be conjugate to nanoparticles, biomolecules, cancer drugs, etc., and can be developed for a specific cancer treatment. Additionally, we summarized the clinical trials where EVs are used in the treatment of several cancer types aiming to improve the prognosis of these deadly diseases.

Biochemical and biophysical characterization of PADI4 supports its involvement in cancer.

PADI4 (protein-arginine deiminase, also known as protein l-arginine iminohydrolase) is one of the human isoforms of a family of Ca2+-dependent proteins catalyzing the conversion of arginine to citrulline. Although the consequences of this process, known as citrullination, are not fully understood, all PADIs have been suggested to play essential roles in development and cell differentiation. They have been found in a wide range of cells and tissues and, among them, PADI4 is present in macrophages, monocytes, granulocytes and cancer cells. In this work, we focused on the biophysical features of PADI4 and, more importantly, how its expression was altered in cancer cells. Firstly, we described the different expression patterns of PADI4 in various cancer cell lines and its colocalization with the tumor-related protein p53. Secondly, we carried out a biophysical characterization of PADI4, by using a combination of biophysical techniques and in silico molecular dynamics simulations. Our biochemical results suggest the presence of several forms of PADI4 with different subcellular localizations, depending on the cancer cell line. Furthermore, PADI4 could have a major role in tumorigenesis by regulating p53 expression in certain cancer cell lines. On the other hand, the native structure of PADI4 was strongly pH-dependent both in the absence or presence of Ca2+, and showed two pH-titrations at basic and acidic pH values. Thus, there was a narrow pH range (from 6.5 to 8.0) where the protein was dimeric and had a native structure, supporting its role in histones citrullination. Thermal denaturations were always two-state, but guanidinium-induced ones showed that PADI4 unfolded through at least one intermediate. Our simulation results suggest that the thermal melting of PADI4 structure was rather homogenous throughout its sequence. The overall results are discussed in terms of the functional role of PADI4 in the development of cancer.

CLytA-DAAO Chimeric Enzyme Bound to Magnetic Nanoparticles. A New Therapeutical Approach for Cancer Patients?

D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO) is an enzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of D-amino acids generating H2O2. The enzymatic chimera formed by DAAO bound to the choline-binding domain of N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine amidase (CLytA) induces cytotoxicity in several pancreatic and colorectal carcinoma and glioblastoma cell models. In the current work, we determined whether the effect of CLytA-DAAO immobilized in magnetic nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles, and alginate capsules offered some advantages as compared to the free CLytA-DAAO. Results indicate that the immobilization of CLytA-DAAO in magnetic nanoparticles increases the stability of the enzyme, extending its time of action. Besides, we compared the effect induced by CLytA-DAAO with the direct addition of hydrogen peroxide, demonstrating that the progressive generation of reactive oxygen species by CLytA-DAAO is more effective in inducing cytotoxicity than the direct addition of H2O2. Furthermore, a pilot study has been initiated in biopsies obtained from pancreatic and colorectal carcinoma and glioblastoma patients to evaluate the expression of the main genes involved in resistance to CLytA-DAAO cytotoxicity. Based on our findings, we propose that CLytA-DAAO immobilized in magnetic nanoparticles could be effective in a high percentage of patients and, therefore, be used as an anti-cancer therapy for pancreatic and colorectal carcinoma and glioblastoma.

Cell Death Mechanisms Induced by CLytA-DAAO Chimeric Enzyme in Human Tumor Cell Lines.

The combination of the choline binding domain of the amidase N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanine (CLytA)-D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO) (CLytA-DAAO) and D-Alanine induces cell death in several pancreatic and colorectal carcinoma and glioblastoma cell lines. In glioblastoma cell lines, CLytA-DAAO-induced cell death was inhibited by a pan-caspase inhibitor, suggesting a classical apoptotic cell death. Meanwhile, the cell death induced in pancreatic and colon carcinoma cell lines is some type of programmed necrosis. In this article, we studied the mechanisms that trigger CLytA-DAAO-induced cell death in pancreatic and colorectal carcinoma and glioblastoma cell lines and we acquire a further insight into the necrotic cell death induced in pancreatic and colorectal carcinoma cell lines. We have analyzed the intracellular calcium mobilization, mitochondrial membrane potential, PARP-1 participation and AIF translocation. Although the mitochondrial membrane depolarization plays a crucial role, our results suggest that CLytA-DAAO-induced cell death is context dependent. We have previously detected pancreatic and colorectal carcinoma cell lines (Hs766T and HT-29, respectively) that were resistant to CLytA-DAAO-induced cell death. In this study, we have examined the putative mechanism underlying the resistance in these cell lines, evaluating both detoxification mechanisms and the inflammatory and survival responses. Overall, our results provide a better understanding on the cell death mechanism induced by CLytA-DAAO, a promising therapy against cancer.

Comparison between diffusion MRI tractography and histological tract-tracing of cortico-cortical structural connectivity in the ferret brain.

The anatomical wiring of the brain is a central focus in network neuroscience. Diffusion MRI tractography offers the unique opportunity to investigate the brain fiber architecture in vivo and noninvasively. However, its reliability is still highly debated. Here, we explored the ability of diffusion MRI tractography to match invasive anatomical tract-tracing connectivity data of the ferret brain. We also investigated the influence of several state-of-the-art tractography algorithms on this match to ground truth connectivity data. Tract-tracing connectivity data were obtained from retrograde tracer injections into the occipital, parietal, and temporal cortices of adult ferrets. We found that the relative densities of projections identified from the anatomical experiments were highly correlated with the estimates from all the studied diffusion tractography algorithms (Spearman's rho ranging from 0.67 to 0.91), while only small, nonsignificant variations appeared across the tractography algorithms. These results are comparable to findings reported in mouse and monkey, increasing the confidence in diffusion MRI tractography results. Moreover, our results provide insights into the variations of sensitivity and specificity of the tractography algorithms, and hence into the influence of choosing one algorithm over another.

A Retino-retinal Projection Guided by Unc5c Emerged in Species with Retinal Waves.

The existence of axons extending from one retina to the other has been reported during perinatal development in different vertebrates. However, it has been thought that these axons are either a labeling artifact or misprojections. Here, we show unequivocally that a small subset of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) project to the opposite retina and that the guidance receptor Unc5c, expressed in the retinal region where the retinal-retinal (R-R) RGCs are located, is necessary and sufficient to guide axons to the opposite retina. In addition, Netrin1, an Unc5c ligand, is expressed in the ventral diencephalon in a pattern that is consistent with impeding the growth of Unc5c-positive retinal axons into the brain. We also have generated a mathematical model to explore the formation of retinotopic maps in the presence and absence of a functional connection between both eyes. This model predicts that an R-R connection is required for the bilateral coordination of axonal refinement in species where refinement depends upon spontaneous retinal waves. Consistent with this idea, the retinal expression of Unc5c correlates with the existence and size of an R-R projection in different species and with the extent of axonal refinement in visual targets. These findings demonstrate that active guidance drives the formation of the R-R projection and suggest an important role for these projections in visual mapping to ensure congruent bilateral refinement.

The centrosome protein AKNA regulates neurogenesis via microtubule organization.

The expansion of brain size is accompanied by a relative enlargement of the subventricular zone during development. Epithelial-like neural stem cells divide in the ventricular zone at the ventricles of the embryonic brain, self-renew and generate basal progenitors1 that delaminate and settle in the subventricular zone in enlarged brain regions2. The length of time that cells stay in the subventricular zone is essential for controlling further amplification and fate determination. Here we show that the interphase centrosome protein AKNA has a key role in this process. AKNA localizes at the subdistal appendages of the mother centriole in specific subtypes of neural stem cells, and in almost all basal progenitors. This protein is necessary and sufficient to organize centrosomal microtubules, and promote their nucleation and growth. These features of AKNA are important for mediating the delamination process in the formation of the subventricular zone. Moreover, AKNA regulates the exit from the subventricular zone, which reveals the pivotal role of centrosomal microtubule organization in enabling cells to both enter and remain in the subventricular zone. The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition is also regulated by AKNA in other epithelial cells, demonstrating its general importance for the control of cell delamination.

Evolution of Cortical Neurogenesis in Amniotes Controlled by Robo Signaling Levels.

Cerebral cortex size differs dramatically between reptiles, birds, and mammals, owing to developmental differences in neuron production. In mammals, signaling pathways regulating neurogenesis have been identified, but genetic differences behind their evolution across amniotes remain unknown. We show that direct neurogenesis from radial glia cells, with limited neuron production, dominates the avian, reptilian, and mammalian paleocortex, whereas in the evolutionarily recent mammalian neocortex, most neurogenesis is indirect via basal progenitors. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments in mouse, chick, and snake embryos and in human cerebral organoids demonstrate that high Slit/Robo and low Dll1 signaling, via Jag1 and Jag2, are necessary and sufficient to drive direct neurogenesis. Attenuating Robo signaling and enhancing Dll1 in snakes and birds recapitulates the formation of basal progenitors and promotes indirect neurogenesis. Our study identifies modulation in activity levels of conserved signaling pathways as a primary mechanism driving the expansion and increased complexity of the mammalian neocortex during amniote evolution.