scholarly journals Reactivation of the pluripotency program precedes formation of the cranial neural crest

Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 371 (6529) ◽  
pp. eabb4776 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antoine Zalc ◽  
Rahul Sinha ◽  
Gunsagar S. Gulati ◽  
Daniel J. Wesche ◽  
Patrycja Daszczuk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neural Crest ◽  
Craniofacial Development ◽  
Open Chromatin ◽  
Cranial Neural Crest ◽  
Craniofacial Skeleton ◽  
Differentiation Potential ◽  
Subsequent Formation ◽  
Developmental Potential ◽  
Epiblast Stem Cells ◽  
Cranial Neural Crest Cells

During development, cells progress from a pluripotent state to a more restricted fate within a particular germ layer. However, cranial neural crest cells (CNCCs), a transient cell population that generates most of the craniofacial skeleton, have much broader differentiation potential than their ectodermal lineage of origin. Here, we identify a neuroepithelial precursor population characterized by expression of canonical pluripotency transcription factors that gives rise to CNCCs and is essential for craniofacial development. Pluripotency factor Oct4 is transiently reactivated in CNCCs and is required for the subsequent formation of ectomesenchyme. Furthermore, open chromatin landscapes of Oct4+ CNCC precursors resemble those of epiblast stem cells, with additional features suggestive of priming for mesenchymal programs. We propose that CNCCs expand their developmental potential through a transient reacquisition of molecular signatures of pluripotency.

scholarly journals Cranial neural crest cells on the move: Their roles in craniofacial development

2010 ◽  
Vol 155 (2) ◽  
pp. 270-279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dwight R. Cordero ◽  
Samantha Brugmann ◽  
Yvonne Chu ◽  
Ruchi Bajpai ◽  
Maryam Jame ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neural Crest ◽  
Neural Crest Cells ◽  
Craniofacial Development ◽  
Cranial Neural Crest ◽  
Cranial Neural Crest Cells

scholarly journals Cranial Neural Crest Cells and Their Role in the Pathogenesis of Craniofacial Anomalies and Coronal Craniosynostosis

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica M. Siismets ◽  
Nan E. Hatch
Keyword(s):  
Neural Crest ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Neural Crest Cells ◽  
Parietal Bone ◽  
Paraxial Mesoderm ◽  
Treacher Collins Syndrome ◽  
Craniofacial Anomalies ◽  
Cranial Neural Crest ◽  
Craniofacial Skeleton ◽  
Cranial Neural Crest Cells

Craniofacial anomalies are among the most common of birth defects. The pathogenesis of craniofacial anomalies frequently involves defects in the migration, proliferation, and fate of neural crest cells destined for the craniofacial skeleton. Genetic mutations causing deficient cranial neural crest migration and proliferation can result in Treacher Collins syndrome, Pierre Robin sequence, and cleft palate. Defects in post-migratory neural crest cells can result in pre- or post-ossification defects in the developing craniofacial skeleton and craniosynostosis (premature fusion of cranial bones/cranial sutures). The coronal suture is the most frequently fused suture in craniosynostosis syndromes. It exists as a biological boundary between the neural crest-derived frontal bone and paraxial mesoderm-derived parietal bone. The objective of this review is to frame our current understanding of neural crest cells in craniofacial development, craniofacial anomalies, and the pathogenesis of coronal craniosynostosis. We will also discuss novel approaches for advancing our knowledge and developing prevention and/or treatment strategies for craniofacial tissue regeneration and craniosynostosis.

scholarly journals Kat2a and Kat2b Acetyltransferase Activity Regulates Craniofacial Cartilage and Bone Differentiation in Zebrafish and Mice

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rwik Sen ◽  
Sofia Pezoa ◽  
Lomeli Carpio Shull ◽  
Laura Hernandez-Lagunas ◽  
Lee Niswander ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neural Crest ◽  
Neural Crest Cells ◽  
Cellular Growth ◽  
Cranial Neural Crest ◽  
Craniofacial Skeleton ◽  
Altered Expression ◽  
Precise Control ◽  
H3k9 Acetylation ◽  
Cranial Neural Crest Cells ◽  
And Cartilage

Cranial neural crest cells undergo cellular growth, patterning, and differentiation within the branchial arches to form cartilage and bone, resulting in a precise pattern of skeletal elements forming the craniofacial skeleton. However, it is unclear how cranial neural crest cells are regulated to give rise to the different shapes and sizes of the bone and cartilage. Epigenetic regulators are good candidates to be involved in this regulation, since they can exert both broad as well as precise control on pattern formation. Here, we investigated the role of the histone acetyltransferases Kat2a and Kat2b in craniofacial development using TALEN/CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis in zebrafish and the Kat2ahat/hat (also called Gcn5) allele in mice. kat2a and kat2b are broadly expressed during embryogenesis within the central nervous system and craniofacial region. Single and double kat2a and kat2b zebrafish mutants have an overall shortening and hypoplastic nature of the cartilage elements and disruption of the posterior ceratobranchial cartilages, likely due to smaller domains of expression of both cartilage- and bone-specific markers, including sox9a and col2a1, and runx2a and runx2b, respectively. Similarly, in mice we observe defects in the craniofacial skeleton, including hypoplastic bone and cartilage and altered expression of Runx2 and cartilage markers (Sox9, Col2a1). In addition, we determined that following the loss of Kat2a activity, overall histone 3 lysine 9 (H3K9) acetylation, the main epigenetic target of Kat2a/Kat2b, was decreased. These results suggest that Kat2a and Kat2b are required for growth and differentiation of craniofacial cartilage and bone in both zebrafish and mice by regulating H3K9 acetylation.

scholarly journals Cadherin-6B proteolysis promotes the neural crest cell epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition through transcriptional regulation

2016 ◽  
Vol 215 (5) ◽  
pp. 735-747 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew T. Schiffmacher ◽  
Vivien Xie ◽  
Lisa A. Taneyhill
Keyword(s):  
Neural Crest ◽  
Epithelial To Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Neural Crest Cell ◽  
Cranial Neural Crest ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Effector Genes ◽  
A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase ◽  
And Migration ◽  
Cranial Neural Crest Cells

During epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs), cells disassemble cadherin-based junctions to segregate from the epithelia. Chick premigratory cranial neural crest cells reduce Cadherin-6B (Cad6B) levels through several mechanisms, including proteolysis, to permit their EMT and migration. Serial processing of Cad6B by a disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) proteins and γ-secretase generates intracellular C-terminal fragments (CTF2s) that could acquire additional functions. Here we report that Cad6B CTF2 possesses a novel pro-EMT role by up-regulating EMT effector genes in vivo. After proteolysis, CTF2 remains associated with β-catenin, which stabilizes and redistributes both proteins to the cytosol and nucleus, leading to up-regulation of β-catenin, CyclinD1, Snail2, and Snail2 promoter-based GFP expression in vivo. A CTF2 β-catenin–binding mutant, however, fails to alter gene expression, indicating that CTF2 modulates β-catenin–responsive EMT effector genes. Notably, CTF2 association with the endogenous Snail2 promoter in the neural crest is β-catenin dependent. Collectively, our data reveal how Cad6B proteolysis orchestrates multiple pro-EMT regulatory inputs, including CTF2-mediated up-regulation of the Cad6B repressor Snail2, to ensure proper cranial neural crest EMT.

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