title: Msx homeobox gene family and craniofacial development.
abstract: Vertebrate Msx genes are unlinked, homeobox-containing genes that bear homology to the Drosophila muscle segment homeobox gene. These genes are expressed at multiple sites of tissue-tissue interactions during vertebrate embryonic development. Inductive interactions mediated by the Msx genes are essential for normal craniofacial, limb and ectodermal organ morphogenesis, and are also essential to survival in mice, as manifested by the phenotypic abnormalities shown in knockout mice and in humans. This review summarizes studies on the expression, regulation, and functional analysis of Msx genes that bear relevance to craniofacial development in humans and mice. Key words: Msx genes, craniofacial, tooth, cleft palate, suture, development, transcription factor, signaling molecule.
authors.affiliation: Division of Developmental Biology, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New orleans, LA 70118, USA.
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alappat
authors.forename: Zun Yi
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yi Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004475:Ectoderm; D004627:Embryonic Induction / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005801:Genes, Homeobox / Q000235:genetics*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051957:MSX1 Transcription Factor; D008445:Maxillofacial Development / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008648:Mesoderm; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008954:Models, Biological; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D009154:Mutation; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D012886:Skull / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D051957:MSX1 Transcription Factor; C084119:MSX2 protein; D014157:Transcription Factors