RNA Seq analysis of GCNF mutant and wt in anterior and posterior cranial regions of E9.25 embryos in Mus musculus

Neural crest cells are migratory progenitor cells that contribute to nearly all tissues and organs throughout the body. Their formation, migration and differentiation are regulated by a multitude of signaling pathways, that when disrupted can lead to disorders termed neurocristopathies. While work in avian and amphibian species has revealed essential factors governing the specification and induction of neural crest cells during gastrulation and neurulation in non-mammalian species, their functions do not appear to be conserved in mice, leaving major gaps in our understanding of neural crest cell formation in mammals. Here we describe Germ Cell Nuclear Factor (GCNF/Nr6a1), an orphan nuclear receptor, as a critical regulator of neural crest cell formation in mice. Gcnf null mutant mice, exhibit a major disruption of neural crest cell formation. The purpose of this experiment is to examine gene expression changes in response to Gcnf mutation in anterior and posterior cranial regions of E9.25 mouse embryos. Overall design: Mouse embryos were collected at E9.25 corresponding to 9-11 somite stage separating the cranial regions (1st pharyngeal arch and anterior) and posterior regions (2nd pharyngeal arch and posterior) for comparison of gene expression between homozygous GCNF mutant and wt.