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Published on: April 1, 2022
Jaw muscularization requires Dlx expression by cranial neural crest cells
Eglantine Heude1, Kamal Bouhali, Yukiko Kurihara
1Evolution des Régulations Endocriniennes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Unité Mixte de Recherche 7221, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 75005 Paris, France.
The origin of vertebrate jaws and masticatory muscles is linked to Dlx gene expression in cranial neural crest cells (CNCCs). These Dlx-positive CNCCs are crucial for both skeletal development and muscle formation, revealing an integrated process.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Evolutionary developmental biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Active predation in vertebrates is linked to head development innovations.
- Key innovations include migratory cranial neural crest cells (CNCCs), Dlx gene expression in the first pharyngeal arch (PA1), and PA1 muscle development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the linkage between CNCCs, Dlx gene expression, and the development of jaw muscles.
- To determine the role of Dlx genes in the formation of masticatory muscles.
Main Methods:
- Utilized mouse models with inactivated Dlx5 and Dlx6 genes.
- Analyzed cephalic myogenic mesoderm development and jaw muscle formation.
- Compared Dlx5/6 mutants with EdnRA mutants to differentiate between jaw identity and muscle development defects.
Main Results:
- Inactivation of Dlx5 and Dlx6 in mice leads to the loss of jaw muscles.
- Dlx5/6 are not expressed in myogenic mesoderm, suggesting an instructive role for CNCCs.
- Muscle defects are independent of mandibular identity loss.
Conclusions:
- Dlx gene expression by CNCCs is essential for both head skeletogenesis and masticatory muscle formation.
- Jaw genesis and muscularization represent an integrated, Dlx-dependent developmental process.
- Dlx genes may have a primitive role in oral skeletomuscular system development, predating their role in jaw identity.
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