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To β or not to β: Canonical β‐catenin signaling pathway and ovarian development
Author(s) -
Tevosian Sergei G.,
Manuylov Nikolay L.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.21784
Subject(s) - biology , wnt signaling pathway , gonad , embryonic stem cell , mechanism (biology) , primordium , microbiology and biotechnology , signal transduction , ovary , gene , genetics , anatomy , philosophy , epistemology
The mammalian embryonic gonad is a unique organ primordium in that it can adopt two different developmental fates—namely, differentiate as either a testis or an ovary—with dramatic consequences for an individual. While a molecular cascade culminating in testis development is well characterized, the ovarian pathways still remain enigmatic. The canonical Wnt/β‐catenin signaling implements a conserved mechanism of regulating gene expression that is integral to development of all metazoans. In this review, we summarize the recent evidence that suggests a central role for this signaling pathway in the development of the mammalian female. Developmental Dynamics 237:3672–3680, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.