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Figure 1.
Versican V0–1 forms a delimiting boundary around migrating NCCs. (A) qPCR of versican isoforms. Bars, mean; error, SEM. (B) Western blot of V0–1 and V3 isoforms. (C–G) Embryos showing expression of versican (C) and the NC marker Twist (D) using whole-mount in situ hybridization (ISH), and corresponding sections (E and F), with a scheme summarizing the sections (G). Sections on E and F have been enhanced by blurring and squaring the separated ISH signals and overlaid in pseudo-color on the section background. (H–L) NCC explants cultured on fibronectin (Fn) + BSA or Fn + versican barriers invade the barrier area only in absence of versican. (J and K) In vitro cluster trajectories with barrier boundary marked as solid line; n = 10; color: time. (L) Percentage of cells invading the barrier (n = 3 independent experiments with n = 251 and n = 336 explants in total for BSA and versican, respectively). Bars, mean; error, SEM. (M–Q) ISH for Twist of embryos grafted with PBS (M) or versican-soaked beads (N), with the corresponding sections (O and P), and inhibition of NC migration (Q; mean inhibition, PBS: n = 5/29, versican: n = 25/32 embryos). Arrowheads show migrating NCC and asterisks indicate grafted bead. **, P < 0.01. |
