Gene expression profile of FACS sorted cranial neural crest cells from E12.5-E13.5 mouse embryonic head
Craniofacial morphogenesis depends on complex cell fate decisions during the differentiation of post-migratory cranial neural crest cells. Molecular mechanisms of cell differentiation of mesenchymal cells to developing bones, cartilage, teeth, tongue, and other craniofacial tissues are still poorly understood. We performed single-cell transcriptomic analysis of craniofacial mesenchymal cells derived from cranial NCCs in mouse embryo. Using FACS sorting of Wnt1-Cre2 progeny, we carefully map the cell heterogeneity in the craniofacial region during the initial stages of bone and cartilage formation. Overall design: Using FACS sorting of Wnt1-Cre2 progeny, we isolated cranial neural crest cells from control Wnt1-Cre2; Meis2fl/+; R26R-EYFPfl/+  and Meis2 cKO Wnt1-Cre2; Meis2fl/fl; R26R-EYFPfl/+  mouse embryo heads at E12.5 and E13.5. On FACS sorted cells we performed scRNA-seq using 10x Genomics Chromium platform.