title: Calcium signaling in vertebrate embryonic patterning and morphogenesis.
abstract: Signaling pathways that rely on the controlled release and/or accumulation of calcium ions are important in a variety of developmental events in the vertebrate embryo, affecting cell fate specification and morphogenesis. One such major developmentally important pathway is the Wnt/calcium signaling pathway, which, through its antagonism of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling, appears to regulate the formation of the early embryonic organizer. In addition, the Wnt/calcium pathway shares components with another non-canonical Wnt pathway involved in planar cell polarity, suggesting that these two pathways form a loose network involved in polarized cell migratory movements that fashion the vertebrate body plan. Furthermore, left-right axis determination, neural induction and somite formation also display dynamic calcium release, which may be critical in these patterning events. Finally, we summarize recent evidence that propose a role for calcium signaling in stem cell biology and human developmental disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Diane C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Slusarski
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pelegri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009024:Morphogenesis; D020897:Organizers, Embryonic / Q000166:cytology; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D014714:Vertebrates; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051153:Wnt Proteins