Spatiotemporal Labeling of Melanocytes in Mice

The document "Spatiotemporal Labeling of Melanocytes in Mice" from May 15, 2018, detailed a study on melanocytes, cells responsible for hair and skin pigmentation. The researchers used spatiotemporal labeling to track the development and migration of these cells in mice, finding that melanocytes originate from the neural crest and migrate to different parts of the body, including hair follicles. The study utilized genetically-engineered mouse models (GEMMs) to monitor cell-cycle and melanocyte behavior, particularly their response to ultraviolet radiation (UVR). The research also explored the role of Melanocyte Stem Cells (MSCs) in hair pigmentation and their potential to develop into melanoma, a type of skin cancer. The study found that the transition of follicular MSCs from a non-dividing state to one of active proliferation is a necessary event in melanomagenesis. The Fluorescent Ubiquitination-based Cell Cycle Indicator (FUCCI) system was used to visualize cell cycle dynamics in these cells.