The signalling molecule BMP4 mediates apoptosis in the rhombencephalic neural crest (original) (raw)

Nature volume 372, pages 684–686 (1994)Cite this article

Abstract

THE pattern of skeletal structures and muscles in the branchial region of the head is profoundly influenced by the neural crest1, whose cells arise at discrete segmental levels of the chick hindbrain: specifically, rhombomeres (r)l + 2, r4 and r6, whereas r3 and r5 are crest-depleted2. We have demonstrated that an interaction between even-numbered rhombomeres and r3/r5 effects this depletion of neural crest, resulting in the sculpting of discrete migratory streams of neural crest3. This mechanism acts through increased expression of msx2 and the induction of apoptosis in dorsal cells of r3 and r5 (ref. 3) (Fig. 1A). Here we demonstrate that the signalling molecule Bmp4 is expressed in r3 and r5 and is dependent on the neighbouring rhombomeres. Addition of recombinant BMP4 protein to explant cultures of r3 or r5, which produce neural crest when isolated from their neighbouring rhombomeres, upregulates msx2 and reinstates apoptosis in the neural crest population.

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Author notes

  1. Philippa Francis-West and Paul Brickell: Medical Molecular Biology Unit, Department of Molecular Pathology, University College London Medical School, London W1P 6DB, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. MRC Brain Development Programme, Division of Anatomy and Cell Biology, UMDS, Guys Hospital, London, SE1 9RT, UK
    Anthony Graham, Philippa Francis-West, Paul Brickell & Andrew Lumsden

Authors

  1. Anthony Graham
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  2. Philippa Francis-West
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  3. Paul Brickell
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  4. Andrew Lumsden
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Graham, A., Francis-West, P., Brickell, P. et al. The signalling molecule BMP4 mediates apoptosis in the rhombencephalic neural crest.Nature 372, 684–686 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1038/372684a0

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