title: Migrating postmitotic neural precursor cells in the ventricular zone extend apical processes and form adherens junctions near the ventricle in the developing spinal cord.
abstract: Postmitotic neural precursors are generated in the ventricular zone (VZ) of the developing neural tube and immediately migrate to the mantle layer (ML) where they differentiate into mature neurons. Although the regulation of neuronal differentiation and migration has extensively been studied, the behavior of the early postmitotic precursors migrating toward the ML is largely unknown. In this study, we have identified Neph3 as a specific marker for early postmitotic neural precursors in the VZ of the developing spinal cord. Analysis of Neph3 localization by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy revealed that early neural precursors in the VZ possessed not only pia-connected processes but also ones that reached the ventricle. This apical extension of processes was confirmed by analyzing another early postmitotic marker, Dll1 mRNA, which was actively transported toward the ventricle and accumulated at the termini of the processes. Furthermore, adherens junctions (AJs) were formed around the apical end of processes extending from Neph3- and Dll1 mRNA-positive postmitotic precursors. Taken together, these observations suggest that migrating early postmitotic neural precursors in the VZ of the developing spinal cord form a neuroepithelial cell-like bipolar morphology and communicate with their neighboring cells through AJs.
authors.affiliation: KAN Research Institute Inc. Science Center Build. 3, Kyoto-Research Park, 93 Chudoji-Awata-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto 600-8815, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Minaki
authors.forename: Eri
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mizuhara
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morimoto
authors.forename: Tomoya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakatani
authors.forename: Yoshimasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Keiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Satoh
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imai
authors.forename: Yoshimi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takai
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ono
mesh_terms: D022005:Adherens Junctions / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D002449:Cell Aggregation / Q000502:physiology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003001:Cloning, Molecular / Q000379:methods; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000502:physiology; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism; D062826:Zonula Occludens-1 Protein
chemical_list: C109219:Brd protein, Drosophila; D015820:Cadherins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C569043:Tjp1 protein, mouse; D014404:Tubulin; D062826:Zonula Occludens-1 Protein; C113267:nephrin