Migrating postmitotic neural precursor cells in the ventricular zone extend apical processes and form adherens junctions near the ventricle in the developing spinal cord.
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.
Minaki
Yasuko
Y
KAN Research Institute Inc. Science Center Build. 3, Kyoto-Research Park, 93 Chudoji-Awata-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto 600-8815, Japan.
Mizuhara
Eri
E
Morimoto
Koji
K
Nakatani
Tomoya
T
Sakamoto
Yoshimasa
Y
Inoue
Yoko
Y
Satoh
Keiko
K
Imai
Toshio
T
Takai
Yoshimi
Y
Ono
Yuichi
Y
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
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