Twist function is required for the morphogenesis of the cephalic neural tube and the differentiation of the cranial neural crest cells in the mouse embryo.
Loss of Twist function in the cranial mesenchyme of the mouse embryo causes failure of closure of the cephalic neural tube and malformation of the branchial arches. In the Twist(-/-) embryo, the expression of molecular markers that signify dorsal forebrain tissues is either absent or reduced, but those associated with ventral tissues display expanded domains of expression. Dorsoventral organization of the mid- and hindbrain and the anterior-posterior pattern of the neural tube are not affected. In the Twist(-/-) embryo, neural crest cells stray from the subectodermal migratory path and the late-migrating subpopulation invades the cell-free zone separating streams of cells going to the first and second branchial arches. Cell transplantation studies reveal that Twist activity is required in the cranial mesenchyme for directing the migration of the neural crest cells, as well as in the neural crest cells within the first branchial arch to achieve correct localization. Twist is also required for the proper differentiation of the first arch tissues into bone, muscle, and teeth.
Soo
Kenneth
K
Embryology Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Locked Bag 23, Wentworthville, NSW 2145, Australia.
O'Rourke
Meredith P
MP
Khoo
Poh-Lynn
PL
Steiner
Kirsten A
KA
Wong
Nicole
N
Behringer
Richard R
RR
Tam
Patrick P L
PP
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002465:Cell Movement; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005838:Genotype; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D006579:Heterozygote; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009154:Mutation; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000196:embryology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D055757:SOXE Transcription Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051879:Twist-Related Protein 1; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000032:analysis
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D055757:SOXE Transcription Factors; C527924:Sox10 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051879:Twist-Related Protein 1; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D001616:beta-Galactosidase