Neural crest cells are a transient stem-like cell population that forms in the dorsal neural tube of vertebrate embryos and then migrates to various locations to differentiate into diverse derivatives such as craniofacial bone, cartilage, and the enteric and peripheral nervous systems. The current dogma of neural crest cell development suggests that there is a specific hierarchical gene regulatory network (GRN) that controls the induction, specification, and differentiation of these cells at specific developmental times. Our lab has identified that a marker of differentiated neurons, Tubulin Beta-III (TUBB3), is expressed in premigratory neural crest cells. TUBB3 has previously been identified as a major constituent of microtubules and is required for the proper guidance and maintenance of axons during development. Using the model organism, Gallus gallus, we have characterized the spatiotemporal localization of TUBB3 in early stages of development. Here we show TUBB3 is expressed in the developing neural plate, is upregulated in the pre-migratory cranial neural crest prior to cell delamination and migration, and it is maintained or upregulated in neurons in later developmental stages. We believe that TUBB3 likely has a role in early neural crest formation and migration separate from its role in neurogenesis.

神经嵴细胞是一种短暂的干细胞样细胞群，在脊椎动物胚胎的背神经管中形成，然后迁移到不同位置以分化为不同的衍生物，如颅面骨、软骨以及肠和周围神经系统。当前神经嵴细胞发育的教条表明，有一个特定的分层基因调控网络 (GRN) 控制这些细胞在特定发育时期的诱导、特化和分化。我们的实验室已经确定分化神经元的标记物 Tubulin Beta-III (TUBB3) 在迁移前的神经嵴细胞中表达。TUBB3 先前已被确定为微管的主要成分，并且是发育过程中正确引导和维护轴突所必需的。使用模式生物，Gallus gallus，我们已经描述了 TUBB3 在早期发育阶段的时空定位。在这里，我们显示 TUBB3 在发育中的神经板中表达，在细胞分层和迁移之前在迁移前的颅神经嵴中上调，并且在发育后期的神经元中保持或上调。我们认为 TUBB3 可能在早期神经嵴形成和迁移中发挥作用，与其在神经发生中的作用不同。