Wnt-frizzled signaling in the induction and differentiation of the neural crest.
The neural crest is a transient population of multipotent progenitors arising at the lateral edge of the neural plate in vertebrate embryos. After delamination and migration from the neuroepithelium, these cells contribute to a diverse array of tissues including neurons, smooth muscle, craniofacial cartilage, bone cells, endocrine cells and pigment cells. Considerable progress in recent years has furthered our understanding at a molecular level of how this important group of cells is generated and how they are assigned to specific lineages. Here we review a number of recent studies supporting a role for Wnt signaling in neural crest induction, differentiation, and apoptosis. We also summarize the timing of expression of a number of Wnt ligands and receptors with respect to neural crest induction.
Yanfeng
Wang
W
Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group, Department of Medicine and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Saint-Jeannet
Jean-Pierre
JP
Klein
Peter S
PS
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D004627:Embryonic Induction; D051157:Frizzled Receptors; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins
D051157:Frizzled Receptors; D011506:Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins