Neural crest cells (NCCs) are migratory cells that differentiate into several cell types, including neurons and bone cells. NCCs proliferate before and throughout their migration and differentiation. Wnt/TCF signalling helps to control this proliferation but are any other factors involved? Berndt and Halloran now report that the guidance molecule semaphorin 3d (Sema3d) acts downstream of Wnt/TCF signalling to promote NCC proliferation and development in the zebrafish hindbrain (see p. 3983). The researchers show that morpholino-mediated knockdown of Sema3d inhibits the proliferation of hindbrain neuroepithelial cells at the time of their epithelial-mesenchymal transition into migratory NCCs. It also reduces the number of migratory NCCs and disrupts the development of NCC derivatives. Other results indicate that Sema3d lies downstream of Wnt/TCF signalling; for example, Sema3d overexpression rescues the reduced NCC proliferation caused by expression of a dominant-repressor form of TCF. The researchers conclude from their experiments that Sema3d function is important for regulating the cell cycle of NCCs and for their subsequent development.
Semaphorin' neural crest signals
Semaphorin' neural crest signals. Development 15 October 2006; 133 (20): e2004. doi:
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