Expression patterns of fibroblast growth factors-18 and -20 in mouse embryos is suggestive of novel roles in calvarial and limb development.
The normal development of calvarial bones and sutures critically relies on proper signalling through Fgf receptors, but the source and identity of cognate ligands have remained unknown. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis in this study shows that a broad range of Fgf ligands are expressed in the coronal sutures separating the parietal and frontal bones. Analysis by whole mount in situ hybridization further reveals distinct expression patterns for Fgf-18, Fgf-20, and by comparison, Fgf-9, in the calvaria, and Fgfs-20 and -9 in the developing limbs, suggestive of their role in proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis.
Hajihosseini
Mohammad K
MK
School of Biosciences, The University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK. kmhj@pugh.bip.bham.ac.uk
Heath
John K
JK
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D005121:Extremities / Q000196:embryology*; D051525:Fibroblast Growth Factor 9; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008024:Ligands; D051379:Mice; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012886:Skull / Q000196:embryology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution
C498812:Fgf20 protein, mouse; C496460:Fgf9 protein, mouse; D051525:Fibroblast Growth Factor 9; D008024:Ligands; C113569:fibroblast growth factor 18; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors