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Neuroepithelial cell markers

Your at-a-glance guide to neuroepithelial cell markers. We've pulled together the most common markers for neuroepithelial cells from recent literature, so you can quickly identify the suitable marker

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Last edited Fri 26 Apr 2024

What are the neuroepithelial cells?

Neuroepithelial (NE) cells are symmetrically dividing cells that form the neural plate and neural tube during embryonic development. They exhibit typical epithelial features such as tight junctions and are highly polarized along their apical-basal axis.  

Nestin

Gene names:

NES

An intermediate filament protein expressed in NE cells. Its expression persists in radial glia until astrocyte development.

iPSCs stained with anti-nestin (red) (ab105389).

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References

View 2 references for Nestin

SOX2

Alternative names:

ANOP3, MCOPS3, SRY-box 2, Sox2, SRY-box transcription factor 2

Gene names:

SOX2

A transcription factor and the earliest marker of the neural plate. It is expressed in proliferating cells and those acquiring glial fates but downregulated in post-mitotic neurons.

E13 mouse spinal cord sections stained with anti-SOX2 (ab97959).

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References

View 2 references for SOX2

Notch1

Alternative names:

Neurogenic locus notch homolog protein 1

Gene names:

NOTCH1

A transmembrane receptor that regulates the formation, migration, and differentiation of neural crest cells.

Mouse embryo tissue sections stained with anti-notch1 (green) (ab65297).

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References

View 2 references for Notch1

HES1 and HES3

Alternative names:

Hairy and enhancer of split-1 and hairy and enhancer of split-3

Gene names:

HES1 and HES3

These transcription factors maintain the symmetrical cell division of NE cells. When NE cells become radial glia, HES3 is downregulated and HES5 is upregulated.

Mouse NIH3T3 cells stained with anti-HES1 (green) (ab71559).

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References

View 1 reference for HES1 and HES3

Occludin

Gene names:

OCLN 

A tight junction protein lost after neural tube closure before neurogenesis.

Human breast cancer cells stained with anti-occludin (red) (ab31721).

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References

View 2 references for Occludin

E-cadherin

Alternative names:

epithelial cadherin

Gene names:

CDH1

Cell adhesion molecule downregulated after neural tube closure before neurogenesis.

Human pluripotent stem cells stained with anti-E-cadherin (ab40772).

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References

View 2 references for E-cadherin

SOX10

Alternative names:

SRY-box 10, SRY-box transcription factor 10

Gene names:

SOX10

A transcription factor present in migrating neural crest cells.

A375 cells stained with anti-SOX10 (ab155279).

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References

View 4 references for SOX10

References