title: G-Protein α-Subunit Gsα Is Required for Craniofacial Morphogenesis.
abstract: The heterotrimeric G protein subunit Gsα couples receptors to activate adenylyl cyclase and is required for the intracellular cAMP response and protein kinase A (PKA) activation. Gsα is ubiquitously expressed in many cell types; however, the role of Gsα in neural crest cells (NCCs) remains unclear. Here we report that NCCs-specific Gsα knockout mice die within hours after birth and exhibit dramatic craniofacial malformations, including hypoplastic maxilla and mandible, cleft palate and craniofacial skeleton defects. Histological and anatomical analysis reveal that the cleft palate in Gsα knockout mice is a secondary defect resulting from craniofacial skeleton deficiencies. In Gsα knockout mice, the morphologies of NCCs-derived cranial nerves are normal, but the development of dorsal root and sympathetic ganglia are impaired. Furthermore, loss of Gsα in NCCs does not affect cranial NCCs migration or cell proliferation, but significantly accelerate osteochondrogenic differentiation. Taken together, our study suggests that Gsα is required for neural crest cells-derived craniofacial development.
authors: West China Developmental & Stem Cell Institute, West China Second Hospital, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.|Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Molecular Biology of Neural Development, Laboratory of Developmental and Regenerative biology, Institute of Biomedicine & Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.|SARITEX Center for Stem Cell Engineering Translational Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
authors: Run
authors: R
authors: Lei
authors: West China Developmental & Stem Cell Institute, West China Second Hospital, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.|Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Molecular Biology of Neural Development, Laboratory of Developmental and Regenerative biology, Institute of Biomedicine & Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.|SARITEX Center for Stem Cell Engineering Translational Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
authors: Ke
authors: K
authors: Zhang
authors: West China Developmental & Stem Cell Institute, West China Second Hospital, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors: Yanxia
authors: Y
authors: Wei
authors: Metabolic Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America.
authors: Min
authors: M
authors: Chen
authors: Metabolic Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America.
authors: Lee S
authors: LS
authors: Weinstein
authors: Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
authors: Yang
authors: Y
authors: Hong
authors: SARITEX Center for Stem Cell Engineering Translational Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
authors: Minyan
authors: M
authors: Zhu
authors: Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Molecular Biology of Neural Development, Laboratory of Developmental and Regenerative biology, Institute of Biomedicine & Biotechnology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
authors: Hongchang
authors: H
authors: Li
authors: West China Developmental & Stem Cell Institute, West China Second Hospital, and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.|SARITEX Center for Stem Cell Engineering Translational Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
authors: Huashun
authors: H
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000196:embryology*; D019205:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000196:embryology; D055786:Gene Knockout Techniques; D051379:Mice; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009154:Mutation; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D012886:Skull / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000196:embryology*; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000196:embryology
chemical_list: D019205:GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs