Pax6 organizes the anterior eye segment by guiding two distinct neural crest waves

PLoS Genet. 2020 Jun 17;16(6):e1008774. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008774. eCollection 2020 Jun.

Abstract

Cranial neural crest (NC) contributes to the developing vertebrate eye. By multidimensional, quantitative imaging, we traced the origin of the ocular NC cells to two distinct NC populations that differ in the maintenance of sox10 expression, Wnt signalling, origin, route, mode and destination of migration. The first NC population migrates to the proximal and the second NC cell group populates the distal (anterior) part of the eye. By analysing zebrafish pax6a/b compound mutants presenting anterior segment dysgenesis, we demonstrate that Pax6a/b guide the two NC populations to distinct proximodistal locations. We further provide evidence that the lens whose formation is pax6a/b-dependent and lens-derived TGFβ signals contribute to the building of the anterior segment. Taken together, our results reveal multiple roles of Pax6a/b in the control of NC cells during development of the anterior segment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anterior Eye Segment / cytology
  • Anterior Eye Segment / embryology
  • Anterior Eye Segment / metabolism*
  • Cell Movement
  • Mutation
  • Neural Crest / cytology
  • Neural Crest / embryology
  • Neural Crest / metabolism*
  • Neurogenesis*
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • PAX6 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • PAX6 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism
  • Zebrafish
  • Zebrafish Proteins / genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • PAX6 Transcription Factor
  • Pax6b protein, zebrafish
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Zebrafish Proteins

Grants and funding

This work was supported by EU FP7-HEALTH-2007-B2 NeuroXsys (https://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/91045/factsheet/en; U.S.), the Interreg NSB-Upper Rhine (http://www.interreg-upperrhine.eu/; U.S.), the Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft Programs BioInterfaces (https://www.helmholtz.de/forschung/schluesseltechnologien/biointerfaces_in_technology_and_medicine/; U.S.) and Science and Technology of Nanosystems (https://www.helmholtz.de/forschung/schluesseltechnologien/science_and_technology_of_nanosystems/; U.S. and G.U.N.) at KIT, EU IP ZF-HEALTH (https://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/95260/reporting/en; U.S.), BMBF-Molecular Interaction Engineering (https://www.forschung-mie.de/; U.S.), DFG SPP 1736 Algorithms for Big Data (https://www.dfg.de/en/funded_projects/current_projects_programmes/list/projectdetails/index.jsp?id=237179235&sort=nr_asc&prg=SPP; J.S.), DFG Graduiertenkolleg 2039 (https://www.dfg.de/gefoerderte_projekte/programme_und_projekte/listen/projektdetails/index.jsp?id=250526013; U.S. and G.U.N.) and Helmholtz Network of Excellence “AESC - Algorithm Engineering for the Scalability Challenge: Algorithms Driving the Information Society” (ExNet-0033-Phase 3; U.S., G.U.N. and R.M.). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.