Tbx1 regulates the development of zebrafish neural crest cells by retinoic acid signaling

The TBX1 gene is considered to be the most important gene in the aetiology of DiGeorge syndrome (DGS). DGS is a human disorder characterised by a number of phenotypic features involving abnormal development of pharyngeal arches, facial dysmorphogenesis and cardiac outflow tract anomalies. Retinoic acid (RA) deficiency also produces DGS-like phenotypes. The affectd tissues in DGS are derivatives of neural crest cells (NCCs), which originate from the border between the neural plate and non-neural ectoderm, migrate to specific destinations in the body, and generate a variety of derivatives. In our study, we have explored the hypothesis that tbx1 affects NCC development in zebrafish by regulating RA signaling.