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How to make a digit: patterning the autopod
Author(s) -
Fallon John F.,
Hasso Sean M,
Suzuki Takayuki
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.5.a867-e
Subject(s) - phalanx , limb bud , limb development , biology , numerical digit , mesenchyme , anatomy , microbiology and biotechnology , mesenchymal stem cell , arithmetic , mathematics , embryo
Malformations of the limb rank second to heart malformations in defects of human live births. The study of limb development and regeneration has been intense for at least 100 years. It is established there are three interdependent signaling centers in the limb bud that coordinate development of the three cardinal limb axes. We have been studying the mechanisms that control development of the autopod, one of the most diverse organ specializations among tetrapods. We propose that signaling mechanisms downstream of the limb bud signaling centers pattern the autopod. Specifically, the interdigital mesenchyme separating the digital rays determines the fate of the forming digits; further, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) are an important factor in this process. I will discuss experiments that demonstrate the source of the cells that form the phalanges, and the developmental timing when each phalanx becomes fixed and stable. I will report molecular data that support the notion that the phalanx forming cells receive BMP signaling through BMPR1b and that Smad8 is downstream of BMP signaling. Supported by NICHD.