Development of the Neural Crest Flashcards
Levels of BMP regulate nervous system formation from the
Ectoderm
BMP near the midline is suppressed by
Noggin, Chordin, and FGF
Low levels of BMP allow the development of the
Nervous System
The first step of neural crest formation is to become distinct from both the
Adjacent ectoderm and neural tissue
The second step of neural crest formation is to begin
Migration
The third step of neural crest formation is to
Localize and differentiate
We can use quail-chick cell transplantation to create a chimeric embryo that allows us to
Map Neural Crest (NC)
The neural crest arises from the
Ectoderm
The qual-chick experiment allowed us to identify classic derivatives of the neural crest. What are the three cranial derivatives?
- ) Neurons and glia of cranial ganglia
- ) Cartilage and bone
- ) Connective tissue
The qual-chick experiment allowed us to identify classic derivatives of the neural crest. What are the three trunk derivatives?
- ) Pigment cells
- ) Sensory Neurons and glia
- ) Sympatho-adrenal cells
What are the levels of BMP for the following tissues?
- ) Epidermal
- ) Neural crest
- ) Neural
- ) High
- ) Intermediate
- ) Low
Forms at the boundary where presumptive neural plate meets the ectoderm
Neural crest
At this boundary, intermediate levels of BMPs in conjunction with FGF and other molecules induce
“snail” and “border specifier” genes
The “snail” and “border specifier” genes, in conjunction with BMPs and Wnts, then induce additional transcription factors that specify the
Neural crest
Stimulates c-Kit (pigment cells) and c-Ret (enteric neural precursors) expression on NC cells that have long migratory pathways
NC specifier transcription factor Sox10
In the initiation and pathways of trunk neural crest migration, first NC must change from epithelium to
Mesenchyme
To change from epithelium to mesenchyme, the NC loses its
6B class of Cadherins
The NC then migrates into a space filled with
Hyaluronic acid
Some disease conditions have deficiencies in several migratory cell populations such as
Pigment cells, hemopoetic cells, and germ cells
Specific ligand-receptor systems are used in
Neural crest migration
Different mutations in different strains of mice (called Dominant spotting and Steel) alter pigmentation and also lead to
Anemia and Sterility
These mutations encode either a specific receptor on the cell surface of the migratory cells or the ligand for that receptor that is produced by the cells in the
Migratory environment
Thus, for germ cells, hemopoetic cells, and NC-derived pigment cells, the tyrosine kinase C-kit receptor (mutated in dominant spotting mutation) on migratory cells binds
Steel factor ligan
Produced in migratory pathways used by germ cells, hemopoetic cells, and NC-derived pigment cells
Steel factor ligand
Production of ligand in the migratory pathway suggests that Steel peptide functions as a chemoattractant for
Receptor Expressing Cells
As in mouse, humans heterozygous for c-Kit mutation have
-as well as some deficits in hemopoetic and germ cell migration
Pigment migratory deficits