PUBLICATION

TGF-β Family Signaling in Early Vertebrate Development

Authors
Zinski, J., Tajer, B., Mullins, M.C.
ID
ZDB-PUB-170611-5
Date
2017
Source
Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in biology   10(6): (Review)
Registered Authors
Mullins, Mary C.
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Body Patterning
  • Embryonic Development/physiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta/genetics
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism*
  • Vertebrates/embryology*
PubMed
28600394 Full text @ Cold Spring Harb. Perspect. Biol.
Abstract
TGF-β family ligands function in inducing and patterning many tissues of the early vertebrate embryonic body plan. Nodal signaling is essential for the specification of mesendodermal tissues and the concurrent cellular movements of gastrulation. Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling patterns tissues along the dorsal-ventral axis and simultaneously directs the cell movements of convergence and extension. After gastrulation, a second wave of Nodal signaling breaks the symmetry between the left and right sides of the embryo. During these processes, elaborate regulatory feedback between TGF-β ligands and their antagonists direct the proper specification and patterning of embryonic tissues. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the function and regulation of TGF-β family signaling in these processes. Although we cover principles that are involved in the development of all vertebrate embryos, we focus specifically on three popular model organisms: the mouse Mus musculus, the African clawed frog of the genus Xenopus, and the zebrafish Danio rerio, highlighting the similarities and differences between these species.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping