Abstract
Wnt signaling has recently emerged as a key factor in controlling stem cell expansion. In contrast, we show here that Wnt/beta-catenin signal activation in emigrating neural crest stem cells (NCSCs) has little effect on the population size and instead regulates fate decisions. Sustained beta-catenin activity in neural crest cells promotes the formation of sensory neural cells in vivo at the expense of virtually all other neural crest derivatives. Moreover, Wnt1 is able to instruct early NCSCs (eNCSCs) to adopt a sensory neuronal fate in a beta-catenin-dependent manner. Thus, the role of Wnt/beta-catenin in stem cells is cell-type dependent.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
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Cadherins / metabolism
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Cell Differentiation
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Cell Division
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Cell Lineage
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Cell Movement
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Cells, Cultured
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Central Nervous System / embryology
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Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism*
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DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
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Mice
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Models, Neurological
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Multipotent Stem Cells / physiology*
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Mutation
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
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Neural Crest / cytology*
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Neural Crest / embryology
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Neural Crest / physiology
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Neurons, Afferent / cytology*
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Neurons, Afferent / physiology
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins / metabolism*
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Signal Transduction*
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Trans-Activators / metabolism*
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Transcription Factor Brn-3
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Transcription Factors / metabolism
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Wnt Proteins
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Wnt1 Protein
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Zebrafish Proteins*
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beta Catenin
Substances
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Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
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CTNNB1 protein, mouse
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Cadherins
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Cytoskeletal Proteins
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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Neurog2 protein, mouse
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins
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Trans-Activators
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Transcription Factor Brn-3
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Transcription Factors
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Wnt Proteins
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Wnt1 Protein
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Wnt1 protein, mouse
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Zebrafish Proteins
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beta Catenin