T-box genes and the formation of vertebrate forelimb- and hindlimb specific pattern.
Limb patterning is thought to be a multistep process involving specification of the limb fields, establishment of defined signaling centers that globally inform cells of their position, interpretation of positional signals, and regulated growth and differentiation of the limb structures. Great progress has been made over the past few years in identifying the molecular players that control limb outgrowth and patterning, in particular, how the limb axes are specified. However, the molecular mechanism for determination of the morphological and functional differences between forelimbs and hindlimbs has remained elusive. The recent identification of a series of limb-specific transcription factors has now provided excellent candidates for such upstream regulators of limb identity, and has allowed new insights into the regulatory network of making a hand or a foot.
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Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Medical School, CMIER-Developmental Systems Biology, 2300 Children's Plaza M/C 204, Chicago, IL 60614, USA.hgsimon@nwu.edu
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D030161:Avian Proteins; D019521:Body Patterning; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005552:Forelimb / Q000196:embryology*; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000196:embryology*; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000196:embryology*
D030161:Avian Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C097348:T-Box Domain Protein 2; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; C103172:T-box transcription factor 5; C491196:TBX4 protein, Gallus gallus; C491460:Tbx3 protein, mouse; C103177:Tbx4 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors