Neural Crest Flashcards
Levels of what protein regulate nervous system formation from ectoderm?
BMP
Low levels of BMP allow:
nervous system development
- BMP is suppressed by chordin, noggin, and FGF at the midline to allow for nervous system development.
What three proteins suppress BMP at the midline to allow for nervous system development?
chordin, noggin, and FGF
High levels of BMP allow:
- maintenance of ectoderm development
Intermediate levels of BMP allow for formation of:
neural crest cells
Distribution of BMP related to development of the neural tube:
What are the major steps in neural crest cell formation?
- Neural crest cells become distinct from ectoderm and neural tissue.
- Neural crest cells begin migration.
- Neural crest cells localize in their target tissue and differentiate.
Trunk derivatives of the neural crest:
- pigment cells
- sensory neurons and glia
- adrenal cells
Cranial derivatives of the neural crest:
- neurons and glia
- cartilage and bone
- connective tissue
Where do neural crest cells form?
- at the boundary where the neural plate meets the ectoderm
- intermediate levels of BMP present here
What transcription factor initiates formation of neural crest cells from the neural tube in response to intermediate levels of BMP?
snail
What transcription factor is the “border specifier” in neural crest cell development from the neural tube?
Sox10
What transcription factors make up the transcription factor cascade of neural crest cell development?
- Snail (initiator)
- Sox10 (border specifier)
- C-Kit (pigment cells)
- C-Ret (enteric nervous system precursors)
What are the first two steps of neural crest migration?
- Neural crest cells change from epithelium to mesenchyme
- Lose 6B class of cadherins
- Neural crest cells migrate into hyaluronic acid filled space and migrate to their target tissue
Path of migration of neural crest cells:
How do neural crest cells change from epithelium to mesenchyme?
- Lose 6B class of cadherins
- cadherins involved in cell adhesion