Single cell RNA-sequencing of esophageal epithelium from wild type and p63-KO mice

Cell fate determination and maintenance play critical roles in establishing and preserving tissue identity and function during organ development. Aberrant cell fate transitions can lead to cancer cells acquiring lineage plasticity, resulting in tumor heterogeneity and resistance to treatment. Trp63 (p63) is a transcription factor important for the formation of stratified squamous epithelium in the esophagus. Here, we report an unexpected role of p63 in protecting esophageal basal progenitor cells from committing to a neuroendocrine fate. Combination of single cell RNA sequencing analysis, lineage tracing and in vitro differentiation, we found that deletion of p63 in developing murine esophagus and in human embryonic stem cells results in extensive differentiation towards neuroendocrine lineage. Overall design: We isolated esophageal epithelium from wild type and p63-KO mice at E18.5 and then applied for single cell RNA-sequencing