In vivo cell sorting in complementary segmental domains mediated by Eph receptors and ephrins

摘要: The restriction of intermingling between specific cell populations is crucial for the maintenance organized patterns during development. A striking example mixing segments in insect epidermis and vertebrate hindbrain that may enable each segment to maintain a distinct identity. In hindbrain, this result different adhesive properties odd- even-numbered (rhombomeres), but an adhesion molecule with alternating segmental expression has not been found. However, blocking experiments suggest Eph-receptor tyrosine kinases be required cells. Eph receptors their membrane-bound ligands, ephrins, are expressed complementary rhombomeres and, by analogy roles axon pathfinding, could mediate repulsion at boundaries. Remarkably, transmembrane ephrins can themselves transduce signals, raising possibility bi-directional signalling occurs adjacent ephrin- Eph-receptor-expressing We report here mosaic activation leads sorting cells boundaries odd-numbered rhombomeres, whereas results rhombomeres. These data implicate intermingling.