0027-8424102492005Dec06Proc Natl Acad Sci U S AZfp312 is required for subcortical axonal projections and dendritic morphology of deep-layer pyramidal neurons of the cerebral cortex.177921779717792-7Pyramidal neurons of the cerebral cortex display marked layer- and subtype-specific differences in their axonal projections and dendritic morphologies. Here we show that transcription factor Zfp312 is selectively expressed by layer V and VI subcortical projection pyramidal neurons and their progenitor cells. Knocking down Zfp312 with small interfering RNAs dramatically reduced the number of subcortical axonal projections from deep-layer pyramidal neurons and altered their dendritic morphology. In contrast, misexpression of Zfp312 in cortically projecting pyramidal neurons of layers II and III induced the expression of Tbr1, a transcription factor enriched in deep-layer neurons, and the formation of ectopic subcortical axonal projections. Thus, our results indicate that transcription factor Zfp312 plays a critical role in layer- and neuronal subtype-specific patterning of cortical axonal projections and dendritic morphologies.ChenJie-GuangJGDepartment of Neurobiology and Kavli Institute for Neuroscience, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.RasinMladen-RokoMRKwanKenneth YKYSestanNenadNengR01 HD045481HDNICHD NIH HHSUnited StatesR01 NS054273NSNINDS NIH HHSUnited StatesHD045481HDNICHD NIH HHSUnited StatesNS054273NSNINDS NIH HHSUnited StatesJournal ArticleResearch Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov't20051128