Late-emigrating neural crest cells in the roof plate are restricted to a sensory fate by GDF7.
Lineage-tracing experiments have shown that some premigratory neural crest cells generate both sensory (S) and autonomic (A) derivatives, whereas others generate only S derivatives. Whether this lineage heterogeneity reflects random variation in a homogeneous population or an early sensory specification of some premigratory crest cells has not been clear. Using Cre recombinase-based fate mapping, we show that GDF7, which is exclusively expressed in the roof plate, marks neural crest cells with a 10-fold higher bias to the sensory lineage than those marked (at the same stage of development) by an inducible Wnt1-Cre, which is expressed more broadly in the dorsal neural tube. In vitro, GDF7 has potent sensory neuron-inducing activity. These data suggest that some premigratory crest cells are deterministically restricted to the S lineage and implicate GDF7 itself in this restriction process.
Lo
Liching
L
Division of Biology 216-76, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
Dormand
Emma L
EL
Anderson
David J
DJ
D000818:Animals; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000502:physiology*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D055412:Growth Differentiation Factors; D051379:Mice / Q000196:embryology*; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000502:physiology*; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000166:cytology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology
D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; C499471:Gdf7 protein, mouse; D055412:Growth Differentiation Factors; C086559:growth differentiation factor 7