Six1 regulates mouse lower incisor development by coordinating Dlx1/2/5 [scRNA-seq]

Tooth development is a complex process orchestrated by intricate gene regulatory networks, involving both odontogenic epithelium and ectomesenchyme. Six1, a pivotal transcription factor (TF), is involved in the development of the lower incisor. However, its precise role during incisor development and the molecular mechanisms underpinning its regulatory functions remain poorly understood. This study employs Six1 deletion mouse models to elucidate the critical regulatory role of Six1 in governing dental mesenchyme development. By performing single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), we constructed a comprehensive transcriptome atlas of tooth germ development from the bud to bell stage. Our analyses suggest that the dental follicle (DF) and the dental papilla (DP) are differentiated from dental ectomesenchyme (DEM), and identify the key transcription factors (TFs) underlying these distinct states. Notably, we show that Dlx1, Dlx2, and Dlx5 (Dlx1/2/5) may function as the key TFs that promote the formation of DP. We further show that the deletion of Six1 perturbs dental mesenchyme development by impeding the transitions from DEM to DP states. Importantly, SIX1 directly binds to the promoters of Dlx1/2/5 to promote their co-expression, which subsequently leads to widespread epigenetic and transcriptional remodeling. In summary, our findings unveil Six1's indispensable role in incisor development, offering key insights into transcription factor-driven regulatory networks that govern dental mesenchyme cell fate transitions during tooth development.