title: Dynamic transcriptional signature and cell fate analysis reveals plasticity of individual neural plate border cells.
abstract: The 'neural plate border' of vertebrate embryos contains precursors of neural crest and placode cells, both defining vertebrate characteristics. How these lineages segregate from neural and epidermal fates has been a matter of debate. We address this by performing a fine-scale quantitative temporal analysis of transcription factor expression in the neural plate border of chick embryos. The results reveal significant overlap of transcription factors characteristic of multiple lineages in individual border cells from gastrula through neurula stages. Cell fate analysis using a Sox2 (neural) enhancer reveals that cells that are initially Sox2+ cells can contribute not only to neural tube but also to neural crest and epidermis. Moreover, modulating levels of Sox2 or Pax7 alters the apportionment of neural tube versus neural crest fates. Our results resolve a long-standing question and suggest that many individual border cells maintain ability to contribute to multiple ectodermal lineages until or beyond neural tube closure.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7558-3592
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roellig
authors.affiliation: Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tan-Cabugao
authors.affiliation: Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States.
authors.forename: Sevan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Esaian
authors.affiliation: Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, United States.
authors.forename: Marianne E
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4274-1862
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Bronner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D000066670:Cell Plasticity; D002642:Chick Embryo; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D054258:Neural Plate / Q000196:embryology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014157:Transcription Factors
keywords: Pax7; Six1; Sox2; chicken; developmental biology; neural plate border; sox2; stem cells