The role of microheterogeneity in cell fate decisions in neural progenitors and neural crest

Abstract

Neuroprogenitors must integrate a multitude of signals, including gradients of morphogens, transcriptional programs, and temporal cues to generate an astonishing diversity of cell types inhabiting the nervous system. How do these different layers of information come together to influence cell fate in progenitor cells in a coordinated way? Here we provide a nuanced perspective on cell fate selection in the nervous system and neural crest lineage, suggesting that it is not a straightforward, deterministic process governed by rigid on-off switches. Instead, the process involves probabilistic transitions influenced by small variations - termed “microheterogeneity” - within a progenitor cell population. These minuscule differences between individual neural progenitor cells can result in significantly different outcomes, making certain fates more probable for some cells than others. Here we discuss the diversity of such examples and the theory behind, also providing future perspectives.