The neural crest is a migratory population of cells in vertebrate embryos that is induced at the boundary between the neural plate and non-neural ectoderm. While many studies have focused on the mechanisms underlying neural crest migration and differentiation, its origins from the ectoderm are less well understood. Recent experiments in our lab suggest that a Wnt signal appears to mediate this induction, but its molecular mechanism is not understood. Therefore, candidate genes expressed in the dorsal neural tube will be assessed for their dose and temporal responsiveness to Wnt signaling using a quantitative PCR assay. These putative targets will then be further analyzed for their regulation by B-catenin. To identify additional (and perhaps novel) genes involved in crest induction that are regulated by Wnt signaling, a genomics approach will be employed. To this end, chick homologs to genes identified in my graduate work to be Wnt responsive will be examined for their role in crest induction. In addition, cDNA macroarrays will be hybridized with cDNA isolated from neural plates cultured with Wnt conditioned medium. Thus, the long-term objective is to describe Wnt induction of the neural crest at a molecular level, and, in doing so, garner more knowledge concerning the development of various human craniofacial disorders and neural crest-derived cancers ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
5F32HD043535-03
Application #
7051435
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F03A (20))
Program Officer
Henken, Deborah B
Project Start
2004-04-01
Project End
2006-11-30
Budget Start
2006-04-01
Budget End
2006-11-30
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2006
Total Cost
$38,328
Indirect Cost
Name
California Institute of Technology
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
009584210
City
Pasadena
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
91125
Taneyhill, Lisa A; Coles, Edward G; Bronner-Fraser, Marianne (2007) Snail2 directly represses cadherin6B during epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions of the neural crest. Development 134:1481-90
Taneyhill, Lisa A; Bronner-Fraser, Marianne (2005) Recycling signals in the neural crest. J Biol 4:10
Taneyhill, Lisa A; Bronner-Fraser, Marianne (2005) Dynamic alterations in gene expression after Wnt-mediated induction of avian neural crest. Mol Biol Cell 16:5283-93