title: Identification of markers of the midface.
abstract: Currently, much remains unknown of the genes that mediate the biological events during growth and fusion of the midfacial region, and the possible pathways through which these genes function. We took advantage of high-throughput microarray analysis to search for genes that may play a critical role in the growth and fusion of the midfacial region to become the primary palate. We identified several genes that were potentially expressed at different levels between tail somite (TS) 6-8 (pre-fusion) and TS 12-14 (fusion) in the 3 midfacial processes. Expression of 4 of these genes (Tbx14/15, Dickkopf-1, Fibroblast Growth Factor 8, and Keratin-18) was further verified by reverse-transcription/quantitative PCR and in situ hybridization at the 2 stages of midfacial development. With the identification of these genes, and possibly others, functional analyses can be conducted to improve our understanding of the mechanisms and pathways by which the midface forms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry, University of Michigan School of Dentistry 1011 N. University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1078, USA. sggong@umich.edu
authors.forename: S-G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: T-W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shum
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics*; D051524:Fibroblast Growth Factor 8; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005819:Genetic Markers; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007633:Keratins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D010159:Palate / Q000196:embryology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C501127:Dkk1 protein, mouse; C496457:Fgf8 protein, mouse; D005819:Genetic Markers; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D020825:T-Box Domain Proteins; C114093:TBX15 protein, mouse; D051524:Fibroblast Growth Factor 8; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D007633:Keratins