title: Patterning molecules; multitasking in the nervous system.
abstract: Classical patterning molecules that were previously implicated in controlling cell fate choices in the nervous system have recently been shown to play additional roles in axon guidance and synaptogenesis. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), Sonic hedgehog (Shh), Wnts, and fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) all participate in multiple acts of controlling neuronal circuit assembly. Depending on the cellular context, they can provide instructive signals at the growth cone or synapse or alternatively can elicit responses in the nucleus initiating transcriptional changes. Differences in signal transduction pathways may contribute to the diversity of the functional repertoire of these versatile molecules.
authors.affiliation: Biozentrum, Department of Cell Biology, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Rishard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salie
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Niederkofler
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arber
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology; D020439:Growth Cones / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000502:physiology; D009420:Nervous System / Q000196:embryology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009414:Nerve Growth Factors