Neural crest cells are a temporary group of cells unique to vertebrates that arise from the embryonic
ectoderm cell layer, and in turn give rise to a diverse cell lineage -- including
melanocytes, craniofacial cartilage and bone, smooth muscle,
peripheral and
enteric neurons and
glia. After
gastrulation, neural crest cells are specified at the border of the neural plate and the non-neural
ectoderm. During
neurulation, the borders of the neural plate, also known as the
neural folds, converge at the dorsal midline to form the
neural tube. Subsequently, neural crest cells from the roof plate of the neural tube undergo an
epithelial to mesenchymal transition, delaminating from the neuroepithelium and migrating through the periphery where they differentiate into varied cell types. The emergence of neural crest was important in vertebrate evolution because many of its structural derivatives are defining features of the vertebrate clade. Underlying the development of neural crest is a
gene regulatory network, described as a set of interacting signals,
transcription factors, and downstream effector genes that confer cell characteristics such as multipotency and migratory capabilities. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of neural crest formation is important for our knowledge of human disease because of its contributions to multiple cell lineages. Abnormalities in neural crest development cause
neurocristopathies, which include conditions such as
frontonasal dysplasia,
Waardenburg-Shah syndrome, and
DiGeorge syndrome.