Teeth. Where and how to make them.
Organs have to develop at precisely determined sites to ensure functionality of the whole organism. Organogenesis is typically regulated by a series of interactions between morphologically distinct tissues. The developing tooth of the mouse is an excellent model to study these processes and we are beginning to understand the networks regulating reciprocal tissue interactions at the molecular level. Synergistic and antagonistic effects of signaling molecules including FGFs and BMPs are recursively used to induce localized responses in the adjacent tissue layer (mesenchyme or epithelium). However, at different phases of odontogenesis these secreted growth factors have distinct effects and at the same time they are regulated by different upstream factors. The mesenchymal transcription factors Msx1 and Pax9 are initially regulated by epithelial FGFs and BMPs, but subsequently they function upstream of these signaling molecules. This cascade provides a molecular model by which reciprocal tissue interactions are controlled.
Peters
H
H
GSF-Research Center for Environment and Health, Institute for Mammalian Genetics, Neuherberg, Germany. hpeters@rascal.med.harvard.edu
Balling
R
R
D000818:Animals; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D004627:Embryonic Induction; D004848:Epithelium / Q000196:embryology; D005136:Eye Proteins; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005801:Genes, Homeobox; D005865:Gestational Age; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D051957:MSX1 Transcription Factor; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D051764:PAX9 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology
C525810:Bmp4 protein, mouse; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D006133:Growth Substances; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D051957:MSX1 Transcription Factor; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D051764:PAX9 Transcription Factor; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; C000605732:Pax6 protein, mouse; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors