title: Molecular insights into segmentation along the proximal-distal axis of the nephron.
abstract: The structure of a mammalian kidney is parsed into large collections of polarized nephrons, and each segment is home to a diverse community of cells that specialize in renal endocrine and excretory functions. Early developmental lengthening and diversification of nephron segments along a proximal--distal axis initiate all subsequent facets of tubular growth and function. Morphogenic cues and biochemical interactions that are critical to this process are starting to emerge. The underlying principles of regional cell signaling and transcriptional control organizing early segmentation are the subject of this review.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO 63110, USA. kopan@wustl.edu
authors.forename: Raphael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kopan
authors.forename: Hui-Teng
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Kameswaran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Surendran
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004848:Epithelium / Q000196:embryology; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000502:physiology; D009399:Nephrons / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D014157:Transcription Factors