Msx homeobox gene family and craniofacial development.
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.
Alappat
Sylvia
S
Division of Developmental Biology, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New orleans, LA 70118, USA.
Zhang
Zun Yi
ZY
Chen
Yi Ping
YP
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
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D051957:MSX1 Transcription Factor; C084119:MSX2 protein; D014157:Transcription Factors