GRIB has contributed in a new study:”Human-specific features of the cerebellum and ZP2-regulated synapse development”

This new study, led by Suel-Kee Kim, Adriana Cherskov, and Nenad Sestan, on human-specific cerebellar biology and the unexpected role of ZP2. GRIB has contributed with excellent work from Xoel Mato and Jose Manuel Ruiz.

GRIB PRESS

17/03/2026

The study, led by Suel-Kee Kim, Adriana Cherskov, and Nenad Sestan, on human-specific cerebellar biology and the unexpected role of ZP2. GRIB has contributed with excellent work from Xoel Mato and Jose Manuel Ruiz. members of the neurogenomics group led by Gabriel Santpere.

Summary

Understanding the unique features of the human brain compared with non-human primates has long intrigued humankind. The cerebellum refines motor coordination and cognitive functions, contributing to the evolutionary development of human adaptability and dexterity. To identify shared and divergent features across primates, we conducted single-nucleus transcriptomic and chromatin accessibility profiling of the adult cerebellar cortex in humans, chimpanzees, macaques, and marmosets. We revealed human-specific transcriptomic and regulatory features, particularly those involved in synaptogenesis. Notably, we identified enrichment of the sperm receptor zona pellucida glycoprotein 2 (ZP2) and its potential interactors, known for their roles in gamete interaction, in human granule cells (GCs). Experimental data show that ZP2 expression in human GCs is induced by pontine mossy fibers, reducing synaptic proteins at the pontocerebellar glomerular synapses and decreasing cerebellar neuron electrophysiological activity. This unexpected co-option of ZP2 in human-specific synapse regulation provides insights into the evolutionary specialization of the human cerebellum.