Abstract
The transcription factor Sox10 is a key regulator of vertebrate neural crest development and serves crucial functions in the differentiation of multiple neural crest lineages. In the chick neural crest, two cis-regulatory elements have been identified that mediate Sox10 expression: Sox10E2, which initiates expression in cranial neural crest; Sox10E1 driving expression in vagal and trunk neural crest. Both also mediate Sox10 expression in the otic placode. Here, we have dissected and analyzed the Sox10E1 enhancer element to identify upstream regulatory inputs. Via mutational analysis, we found two critical Sox sites with differential impact on trunk versus otic Sox10E1 mediated reporter expression. Mutation of a combined SoxD/E motif was sufficient to completely abolish neural crest but not ear enhancer activity. However, mutation of both the SoxD/E and another SoxE site eliminated otic Sox10E1 expression. Loss-of-function experiments reveal Sox5 and Sox8 as critical inputs for trunk neural crest enhancer activity, but only Sox8 for its activity in the ear. Finally, we show by ChIP and co-immunoprecipitation that Sox5 directly binds to the SoxD/E site, and that it can interact with Sox8, further supporting their combinatorial role in activation of Sox10E1 in the trunk neural crest. The results reveal important tissue-specific inputs into Sox10 expression in the developing embryo.