EMBO J 30 15, 3004–3018 (2011); published online June 21 2011
Recent data suggest that heterogeneous compartments of the bulge display differential gene expression, and supply cells to different lineages within the pilosebaceous unit (Jaks et al, 2008; Jensen et al, 2009; Snippert et al, 2010). In particular, Lgr6 and Lrig1 are expressed above the CD34+ bulge region and Lgr6 expressing cells contribute primarily to the sebaceous gland (Figure 1). Thus, if and how the multipotent bulge cells give rise to cells to the sebaceous gland is not well understood. In this issue of The EMBO Journal, Petersson et al (2011) investigate how bulge cells contribute to the sebaceous gland in vivo using careful lineage tracing experiments and live bulge cell imaging in intact organ cultures.