Myosin-X is required for cranial neural crest cell migration in Xenopus laevis.
Myosin-X (MyoX) belongs to a large family of unconventional, nonmuscle, actin-dependent motor proteins. We show that MyoX is predominantly expressed in cranial neural crest (CNC) cells in embryos of Xenopus laevis and is required for head and jaw cartilage development. Knockdown of MyoX expression using antisense morpholino oligonucleotides resulted in retarded migration of CNC cells into the pharyngeal arches, leading to subsequent hypoplasia of cartilage and inhibited outgrowth of the CNC-derived trigeminal nerve. In vitro migration assays on fibronectin using explanted CNC cells showed significant inhibition of filopodia formation, cell attachment, spreading and migration, accompanied by disruption of the actin cytoskeleton. These data support the conclusion that MyoX has an essential function in CNC migration in the vertebrate embryo.
Hwang
Yoo-Seok
YS
Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, NICHD, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
Luo
Ting
T
Xu
Yanhua
Y
Sargent
Thomas D
TD
D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D009218:Myosins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D029867:Xenopus Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism
C492069:Myo10 protein, Xenopus; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D009218:Myosins