title: Morphogens as growth cone signalling molecules.
abstract: Morphogen signalling among cells is one of the most important mechanisms underlying the progressive patterning of embryos. Members of the hedgehog (Hh), wingless (Wnt), transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta), and fibroblast growth factor (Fgf) families of extracellular signalling molecules act as morphogens. Recent studies have demonstrated that members of these four families of proteins, secreted by well-characterised organiser centres in the central nervous system (CNS) as floor plate or midbrain-hindbrain boundary, are reused at later developmental stages to control axon growth. Here, we have summarised the evidence for this novel idea with a particular emphasis on those related to Shh and Wnt signalling-the object of some works in our laboratory.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Dr. Arce 37, Madrid 28002, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Camacho
authors.forename: Josana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: José María
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Trousse
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bovolenta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000502:physiology; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000196:embryology*; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology; D020439:Growth Cones / Q000502:physiology*; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051153:Wnt Proteins
chemical_list: D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors