title: Tube or not tube: remodeling epithelial tissues by branching morphogenesis.
abstract: Branching morphogenesis involves the restructuring of epithelial tissues into complex and organized ramified tubular networks. Early rounds of branching are controlled genetically in a hardwired fashion in many organs, whereas later, branching is stochastic, responding to environmental cues. We discuss this sequential process from formation of an organ anlage and invagination of the epithelium to branch initiation and outgrowth in several model systems including Drosophila trachea and mammalian lung, mammary gland, and kidney.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Zellbiologie, Biozentrum der Universität Basel, CH-4056, Basel, Switzerland. markus.affolter@unibas.ch
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Affolter
authors.forename: Savério
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bellusci
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Itoh
authors.forename: Benny
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shilo
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Thiery
authors.forename: Zena
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Werb
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001940:Breast / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002465:Cell Movement; D004848:Epithelium / Q000196:embryology*; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009928:Organ Specificity; D014132:Trachea / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology