Cranial neural crest shortage leads to extensive craniofacial anomalies in mice mutant for the NR2F1/2 nuclear receptors.

ABSTRACT: Nuclear receptors are iteratively deployed during neural crest development, from pre-induction through differentiation stages. NR2F1 and NR2F2 in particular have been proposed as broad regulators of early neural crest gene expression in mammals, but the timing, extent, and redundancy of their developmental requirement has remained unclear, as Nr2f1 and Nr2f2 single mouse mutants present only minimal craniofacial phenotypes. Here we report the dynamic expression patterns of Nr2f1 and Nr2f2 in the mouse cranial neural crest from specification through post-migratory stages. Combined conditional knockout of both Nr2f1 and Nr2f2 in the neural crest with Wnt1-Cre or Pax3^Cre caused severe midfacial clefting, loss of the maxilla and palate, and hypoplasticity of all other facial skeleta

SUBMITTER: Paulding D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12720995 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature