Pax7-expressing multipotent progenitor originating from mouse somitic mesoderm gives rise to skeletal muscle, brown adipose tissue, and dorsal dermis. However, the exact time points of commitment are yet concluded. Meanwhile, mechanisms cell fate decision of Pax7 lineage which determines the population to be specific cell type remains unknown. Here, combination of lineage tracing using Pax7^CreER/R26R-EYFP embryos in which tamoxifen was induced at E9.5 and harvested at E12.5, E14.5, and E16.5, followed by single-cell RNA sequencing revealed the transcriptomic profile and commitment time point of the Pax7 lineage. Commitment of myogenic lineage begins at E12.5, whereas E14.5 for dermal lineage and E16.5 for brown adipogenic lineage. Single-cell profiling also captured neurons as...[ Read more ]

Pax7-expressing multipotent progenitor originating from mouse somitic mesoderm gives rise to skeletal muscle, brown adipose tissue, and dorsal dermis. However, the exact time points of commitment are yet concluded. Meanwhile, mechanisms cell fate decision of Pax7 lineage which determines the population to be specific cell type remains unknown. Here, combination of lineage tracing using Pax7^CreER/R26R-EYFP embryos in which tamoxifen was induced at E9.5 and harvested at E12.5, E14.5, and E16.5, followed by single-cell RNA sequencing revealed the transcriptomic profile and commitment time point of the Pax7 lineage. Commitment of myogenic lineage begins at E12.5, whereas E14.5 for dermal lineage and E16.5 for brown adipogenic lineage. Single-cell profiling also captured neurons as well, possibly from Pax7+ progenitors from endoderm. Pseudotime trajectory analysis showed genes correlated with development, and the critical signaling pathways, transcription factor target, as well as histone modification possibly determining cell fate. Lastly, combination of cell surface markers were identified for isolating and enriching particular populations in Pax7 lineage, useful for specific experiments targeting one cell type.