Neural crest development: insights from the zebrafish

Abstract

Our understanding of the neural crest, a key vertebrate innovation, is built upon studies of multiple model organisms. Early research on neural crest cells (NCCs) was dominated by analyses of accessible amphibian and avian embryos, with mouse genetics providing complementary insights in more recent years. The zebrafish model is a relative newcomer to the field, yet it offers unparalleled advantages for the study of NCCs. Specifically, zebrafish provide powerful genetic and transgenic tools, coupled with rapidly developing transparent embryos that are ideal for high-resolution real-time imaging of the dynamic process of neural crest development. While the broad principles of neural crest development are largely conserved across vertebrate species, there are critical differences in anatomy, morphogenesis, and genetics that must be considered before information from one model is extrapolated to another. Here, our goal is to provide the reader with a helpful primer specific to neural crest development in the zebrafish model. We focus largely on the earliest events-specification, delamination, and migrationdiscussing what is known about zebrafish NCC development and how it differs from NCC development in non-teleost species, as well as highlighting current gaps in knowledge.

Migratory patterns and evolutionary plasticity of cranial neural crest cells in ray-finned fishes

“…Fig. 1I-L and Schmitz et al, 1993;Lowery and J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f Sive, 2004;Pospisilova et al, 2019;Rocha et al, 2019). We next asked when CNC cells begin their migration.…”

“…11; Falck et al, 2002;Square et al, 2017), we show that there is heterochrony of the hyoid CNC stream associated with early morphogenesis of key hyoid structures like external gills (bichir), large opercular flap (gar), or first forming cartilage (pike) essential for the hyostylic jaw suspension. However, this hyoid heterochrony has not yet been observed in fish model organisms such as zebrafish or medaka (Schilling and Kimmel, 1994;Stewart et al, 2006;Nagao et al, 2018;Rocha et al, 2019). This raises the question of what represents the ancestral state: do the observed heterochronic alterations in CNC migratory patterns represent an ancestral state of ray-finned fish development?…”

“…The most anterior and diverse neural crest population is the cranial neural crest (CNC), which migrates in three wide streams called the mandibular, hyoid and branchial, each J o u r n a l P r e -p r o o f separated by neural crest-free zones adjacent to rhombomere 3 and 5 (Kulesa et al, 2010;Theveneau and Mayor, 2012;Szabó and Mayor, 2018). This migratory pattern of CNC cells appears to be mostly conserved across all vertebrates (Falck et al, 2002;Minoux and Rijli, 2010;Theveneau and Mayor, 2012;Rocha et al, 2019).…”

Tools of the trade: studying actin in zebrafish

“…The rapid development of zebrafish organ systems within a few days of development allows the study of actin in specific contexts and can provide insight into different aspects of actin regulation in specific cell types and tissue. These include the study of migration of neurons, collective migration such as that by the lateral line primordia as well as single cell migration of germ or immune cells, and the development of various muscles (Deng and Huttenlocher 2012 ; Olson and Nechiporuk 2018 ; Paksa and Raz 2015 ; Rocha et al 2020 ; Sanger et al 2009 ). Here, we discuss examples of a few selected model cell types and tissues in zebrafish, in which actin regulation can be studied in-depth.…”

A Great Catch for Investigating Inborn Errors of Metabolism—Insights Obtained from Zebrafish

“…Zebrafish development is incredibly well characterized regarding staging, neurological structures, cell migration/differentiation, and the zebrafish genome is also fully sequenced [ 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ]. During teleost evolution, the zebrafish genome underwent a whole-genome duplication and therefore many human genes contain multiple zebrafish ortholog counterparts [ 45 ].…”