Wnt activity guides facial branchiomotor neuron migration, and involves the PCP pathway and JNK and ROCK kinases.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Wnt proteins play roles in many biological processes, including axon guidance and cell migration. In the mammalian hindbrain, facial branchiomotor (FBM) neurons undergo a striking rostral to caudal migration, yet little is known of the underlying molecular mechanisms. In this study, we investigated a possible role of Wnts and the planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway in this process.

Results

Here we demonstrate a novel role for Wnt proteins in guiding FBM neurons during their rostral to caudal migration in the hindbrain. We found that Wnt5a is expressed in a caudal high to rostral low gradient in the hindbrain. Wnt-coated beads chemoattracted FBM neurons to ectopic positions in an explant migration assay. The rostrocaudal FBM migration was moderately perturbed in Wnt

SUBMITTER: Vivancos V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2654884 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature