Development of the neural crest: achieving specificity in regulatory pathways.
Recent studies have revealed the signaling pathways and downstream effectors involved in the specification of the neural crest. Neural crest cells are generated from a zone at the neurectoderm border in response to Wnt and BMP signals. BMP signals are involved in establishing a competency zone at the border of the neurectoderm, while subsequent Wnt signals specify neural crest cells. Combinations of transcription factors, including pax and msx gene products, act downstream of these pathways to integrate signals and establish the neural crest. Mechanisms are emerging for how specificity is generated from reiterated signals and effectors.
Raible
David W
DW
University of Washington, Department of Biological Structure, Seattle, WA 98195-7420, USA. draible@u.washington.edu
D000818:Animals; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D004475:Ectoderm / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051153:Wnt Proteins