Int. J. Dev. Biol. 63: 29 - 35 (2019)

https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.180184kt

Vol 63, Issue 1-2

Latrophilin2 is involved in neural crest cell migration and placode patterning in Xenopus laevis

Original Article | Published: 15 March 2019

Natsumi Yokote^#,1,2, Marianna Y. Suzuki-Kosaka^#,1,2, Tatsuo Michiue³, Takahiko Hara*^,1,2 and Kosuke Tanegashima*^,1

¹Stem Cell Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Setagaya-ku, ²Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo-ku and ³Department of Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Abstract

Latrophilin2 (Lphn2) is an adhesion-class of G protein-coupled receptor with an unknown function in development. Here, we show that Xenopus laevis lphn2 (Xlphn2) is involved in the migration and differentiation of neural crest (NC) cells and placode patterning in Xenopus laevis embryos. Although Xlphn2 mRNA was detected throughout embryogenesis, it was expressed more abundantly in the placode region. Morpholino antisense oligonucleotide-mediated knockdown of Xlphn2 caused abnormal migration of NC cells, irregular epibranchial placode segmentation, and defective cartilage formation. Transplantation of fluorescently-labeled NC regions of wild-type embryos into Xlphn2 morpholino-injected embryos reproduced the defective NC cell migration, indicating that Xlphn2 regulates the migration of NC cells in a non-cell autonomous manner. Our results suggest that Xlphn2 is essential for placode patterning and as a guidance molecule for NC cells.

Keywords

latrophilin, neural crest, placode