title: Recent advances in elucidating the genetic mechanisms of nephrogenesis using zebrafish.
abstract: The kidney is comprised of working units known as nephrons, which are epithelial tubules that contain a series of specialized cell types organized into a precise pattern of functionally distinct segment domains. There is a limited understanding of the genetic mechanisms that establish these discrete nephron cell types during renal development. The zebrafish embryonic kidney serves as a simplified yet conserved vertebrate model to delineate how nephron segments are patterned from renal progenitors. Here, we provide a concise review of recent advances in this emerging field, and discuss how continued research using zebrafish genetics can be applied to gain insights about nephrogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Zebrafish Research, and Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA. ccheng2@nd.edu.
authors.forename: Christina N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Zebrafish Research, and Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA. verdunv12@alumni.nd.edu.
authors.forename: Valerie A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Verdun
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Zebrafish Research, and Center for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA. rwingert@nd.edu.
authors.forename: Rebecca A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Wingert
keywords: aPKC; hnf1ba/b; kidney development; mecom; nephron segmentation; renal progenitor; sim1a; tubulogenesis; vertebrate; zebrafish