Actb^−/− neural crest cells display decreased cadherin-11 expression and migrate in clusters.

<p>Schematic view of N-cadherin and cadherin-11 expression in the Actb^+/+ and Actb^−/− embryos at E9.5. Neural crest cells in the dorsal neural tube express both N-cadherin and cadherin-11, migrating neural crest cells express high levels of cadherin-11 while maintaining N-cadherin levels. Actb^−/− neural crest cells in the dorsal neural tube show very low levels of cadherin-11. Migrating Actb^−/− neural crest cells show decreased cadherin-11 expression levels and therefore mainly express N-cadherin. Most migrating Actb^−/− neural crest cells were organized as clusters rather than distinct streams as Actb^+/+ neural crest cells. n: notochord; nt: neural tube; d: dermomyotome; scl: sclerotome.