Fig. 8. NCC trajectories mimic in vivo events in EMLOs.

a Cluster 14 scRNAseq annotation as NCC by combined expression of SOX10, FOXD3, and S100B. b Schematic representation of neural tube cross-section depicts NCC in vivo developmental steps: pre-EMT (1), delamination/EMT (2), fate-biased lineage migration (3), and lineage commitment (4) to establish autonomic (yellow), sensory (blue), and mesenchymal (purple) anatomic derivatives²⁵. DRG (dorsal root ganglia), PVG (prevertebral ganglia), Ao (aorta). c Peripheral neuron biomarker peripherin (red) in mesoderm–endoderm (ME) compartment (N = 2 repeat experiments). Individual scale bar is shown. d Updated NCC model by Soldatov et al.²⁴ depicts developmental events described in b and the implicated genes. e Transcripts from the NCC processes labeled 1–4 as in b, d by scRNAseq in day 16 EMLOs (log₂Exp). We infer that, in general, cells progress from the roof plate (cluster 15) and spinal cord (clusters 4, 9) as they undergo EMT to cluster 14 and express transcripts associated with fate-biased migration. Lineage-committed transcriptional programs are also detected for sensory and autonomic neurons, glia, and mesenchyme.