Gene expression prolifes at single cell levels of neural crest cells with augmented bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling.

Transgenic mice expressing constitutively activated BMP type 1 receptor (caAcvr1) in neural crest cells (NCCs)(P0-Cre;caAcvr1 mice, hereafter, caAcvr1 mut mice) develop ectopic cartilage in the face but not in trunk region despite both facial and trunk region composed of NCCs. This study was aimed to identify genes that expressions are changed only in cranial NCCs by BMP signaling, but not in trunk NCCs. The genes were candidate genes involved in BMP-induced ectopic cartilage formation in the face. We isolated cranial NCCs (from the first branchial arch) and trunk NCCs (from the trunk regions) of control and caAcvr1 mut mice at E10.5, respectively. By comparing comprehensive gene expression profiles between four groups, genes significantly changed only in cranial NCCs of caAcvr1 mut mice were candidates involved in ectopic cartilage formation.