Work

Neuromesodermal progenitors and the making of the spinal cord

Year: 2015

Type: review

Abstract: Neuromesodermal progenitors (NMps) contribute to both the elongating spinal cord and the adjacent paraxial mesoderm. It has been assumed that these cells arise as a result of patterning of the anterior neural plate. However, as the molecular mechanisms that specify NMps in vivo are uncovered, and as protocols for generating these bipotent cells from mouse and human pluripotent stem cells in vitro are established, the emerging data suggest that this view needs to be revised. Here, we review the characteristics, regulation, in vitro derivation and in vivo induction of NMps. We propose that these cells arise within primitive streak-associated epiblast via a mechanism that is separable from that which establishes neural fate in the anterior epiblast. We thus argue for the existence of two distinct routes for making central nervous system progenitors.

Source: Development

DOI: 10.1242/dev.119768

Authors: Domingos Henrique, Elsa Abranches, Laure Verrier, Kate G. Storey

Institutions: University of Lisbon, Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Instituto de Histologia e Biologia do Desenvolvimento, University of Dundee

Language: English

Topic: Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,337

Funders: Wellcome Trust, Medical Research Council, Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia