Special Focus: Recent Advances in molecular and cellular mechanisms governing neural crest cell migration

Control of neural crest cell behavior and migration: Insights from live imaging

Volume 4, Issue 4   October/November/December 2010
Pages 586 - 594
http://dx.doi.org/10.4161/cam.4.4.12902
Matthew R. Clay and Mary C. Halloran

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Neural crest cells (NCCs) are a remarkable, dynamic group of cells that travel long distances in the embryo to reach their target sites. They are responsible for the formation of craniofacial bones and cartilage, neurons and glia in the peripheral nervous system, and pigment cells. Live imaging of NCCs as they traverse the embryo has been critical to increasing our knowledge of their biology. NCCs exhibit multiple behaviors and communicate with each other and their environment along each step of their journey. Imaging combined with molecular manipulations has led to insights into the mechanisms controlling these behaviors. In this review, we highlight studies that have used live imaging to provide novel insight into NCC migration and discuss how continued use of such techniques can advance our understanding of NCC biology.

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