Project description:Cranial neural crest development is governed by positional gene regulatory networks (GRNs). Fine-tuning of the GRN components underly facial shape variation, yet how those in the midface are connected and activated remain poorly understood. Here, we show that concerted inactivation of Tfap2a and Tfap2b in the murine neural crest, even during the late migratory phase, results in a midfacial cleft and skeletal abnormalities. Bulk and single-cell RNA-seq profiling reveal that loss of both Tfap2 members dysregulates numerous midface GRN components involved in midface morphogenesis, patterning, and differentiation. Notably, Alx1/3/4 (Alx) transcript levels are reduced, while ChIP-seq analyses suggest TFAP2 directly and positively regulates Alx gene expression. TFAP2 and ALX co-expression in midfacial neural crest cells of both mouse and zebrafish further implies conservation of this regulatory axis across vertebrates. Consistent with this notion in zebrafish, tfap2a mutants present abnormal alx3 expression patterns, Tfap2a binds alx loci, and tfap2a-alx3 genetic interactions are observed. Together, these data demonstrate TFAP2 paralogs regulate vertebrate midfacial development by activating expression of ALX transcription factors.
Project description:Cranial neural crest development is governed by positional gene regulatory networks (GRNs). Fine-tuning of the GRN components underly facial shape variation, yet how those in the midface are connected and activated remain poorly understood. Here, we show that concerted inactivation of Tfap2a and Tfap2b in the murine neural crest, even during the late migratory phase, results in a midfacial cleft and skeletal abnormalities. Bulk and single-cell RNA-seq profiling reveal that loss of both Tfap2 members dysregulates numerous midface GRN components involved in midface morphogenesis, patterning, and differentiation. Notably, Alx1/3/4 (Alx) transcript levels are reduced, while ChIP-seq analyses suggest TFAP2 directly and positively regulates Alx gene expression. TFAP2 and ALX co-expression in midfacial neural crest cells of both mouse and zebrafish further implies conservation of this regulatory axis across vertebrates. Consistent with this notion in zebrafish, tfap2a mutants present abnormal alx3 expression patterns, Tfap2a binds alx loci, and tfap2a-alx3 genetic interactions are observed. Together, these data demonstrate TFAP2 paralogs regulate vertebrate midfacial development by activating expression of ALX transcription factors.
Project description:Cranial neural crest development is governed by positional gene regulatory networks (GRNs). Fine-tuning of the GRN components underly facial shape variation, yet how those in the midface are connected and activated remain poorly understood. Here, we show that concerted inactivation of Tfap2a and Tfap2b in the murine neural crest, even during the late migratory phase, results in a midfacial cleft and skeletal abnormalities. Bulk and single-cell RNA-seq profiling reveal that loss of both Tfap2 members dysregulates numerous midface GRN components involved in midface morphogenesis, patterning, and differentiation. Notably, Alx1/3/4 (Alx) transcript levels are reduced, while ChIP-seq analyses suggest TFAP2 directly and positively regulates Alx gene expression. TFAP2 and ALX co-expression in midfacial neural crest cells of both mouse and zebrafish further implies conservation of this regulatory axis across vertebrates. Consistent with this notion in zebrafish, tfap2a mutants present abnormal alx3 expression patterns, Tfap2a binds alx loci, and tfap2a-alx3 genetic interactions are observed. Together, these data demonstrate TFAP2 paralogs regulate vertebrate midfacial development by activating expression of ALX transcription factors.
Project description:Cranial neural crest cells in the pharyngeal arches give rise to vertebrate head skeletal structures. Hox genes confer segmental identity to the different arches, and Hox mutations result in mirror-image homeotic duplications. Frontonasal cranial neural crest cells reside anterior to the first pharyngeal arch, give rise to the midface skeleton, and are not considered part of the segmental series. Here, we demonstrate that alx genes confer segmental identity to this anterior-most population in zebrafish; alx mutations result in mirror-image homeotic transformations. We define the boundary between the frontonasal and arch populations and demonstrate that Alx expression is restricted to the anterior-most cranial neural crest cells in zebrafish and lamprey, suggesting these expression patterns were present early in the vertebrate lineage. We propose that frontonasal neural crest cells represent the anterior-most segment of the pharyngeal arch meristic series, and that Alx genes function as homeotic selector genes conferring their segmental identity.