Table 1.
Some key neural crest-related genes
| Gene | Encodes a... | Expressed in... | During... | Function |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bmp | Growth factor | Non-neural ectoderm | Gastrulation | Neural crest induction |
| Wnt | Growth factor | Non-neural ectoderm | Gastrulation | Neural crest induction |
| Zic | Transcription factor | Neural folds & neural plate | Neurula | Neural plate border specifier |
| Pax3/7 | Transcription factor | Neural folds & neural plate | Neurula | Neural plate border specifier |
| Msx1/2 | ??transcription factor | Neural folds & non-neural ectoderm | Neurula | Neural plate border specifier |
| Dlx | Transcription factor | Neural folds and non-neural ectoderm | Neurula | Neural plate border specifier |
| Ap2 | Transcription factor | Premigratory neural crest | Segmentation | Neural crest specifier |
| cMyc | Transcription factor | Premigratory neural crest | Segmentation | Neural crest specifier |
| FoxD3 | Transcription factor | Premigratory neural crest | Segmentation | Neural crest specifier |
| Id | Transcription factor | Premigratory neural crest | Segmentation | Neural crest specifier |
| Twist | Transcription factor | Premigratory neural crest | Segmentation | Neural crest specifier |
| Sox9 | Transcription factor | Premigratory neural crest | Segmentation | Neural crest specifier |
| Sox10 | Transcription factor | Premigratory neural crest | Segmentation | Neural crest specifier |
| Slug/snail | Transcription factor | Premigratory neural crest | Segmentation | Regulates neural crest cell delamination |
| RhoB | Rho GTPase | Premigratory neural crest | Segmentation | Neural crest cell delamination |
| Cadherin | Cell adhesion molecule | Ectodermal epithelia | Segmentation | Changes in cadherins promote neural crest delamination |