%0 Journal Article %A Daniel Mueller and Pitchaiah Cherukuri and Kristine A. Henningfeld and Chor Hoon Poh and Lars Wittler and Phillip Grote and Oliver M. Schlüter and Jennifer Schmidt and Jorge Laborda and Steven R. Bauer and Robert M. Brownstone and Till Marquardt %T Dlk1 Promotes a Fast Motor Neuron Biophysical Signature Required for Peak Force Execution %D 2014 %I Amer Assoc Advancement Science %X Motor neurons, which relay neural commands to drive skeletal muscle movements, encompass types ranging from "slow" to "fast," whose biophysical properties govern the timing, gradation, and amplitude of muscle force. Here we identify the noncanonical Notch ligand Delta-like homolog 1 (Dlk1) as a determinant of motor neuron functional diversification. Dlk1, expressed by similar to 30% of motor neurons, is necessary and sufficient to promote a fast biophysical signature in the mouse and chick. Dlk1 suppresses Notch signaling and activates expression of the K+ channel subunit Kcng4 to modulate delayed-rectifier currents. Dlk1 inactivation comprehensively shifts motor neurons toward slow biophysical and transcriptome signatures, while abolishing peak force outputs. Our findings provide insights into the development of motor neuron functional diversity and its contribution to the execution of movements. %R doi:10.1126/science.1246448