Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 13, 2026

Live Imaging of Mouse Secondary Palate Fusion
Published on: July 27, 2017
The TGF-beta type III receptor is localized to the medial edge epithelium during palatal fusion
1The University of Southern California, School of Dentistry, Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, Los Angeles 90089, USA.
Abstract:
During palatal fusion, the medial edge epithelial cells (MEE) but not the oral/nasal palatal epithelium, selectively undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transformation. It is known that this process is regulated, at least in part, by endogenous TGF-beta3. One conceivable mechanism is that restricted expression of TGF-beta receptors (TbetaRs) in a subpopulation of cells may localize TGF-beta responsiveness (Brown et al., 1999). However, TGF-beta type II receptor (TbetaR-II) is expressed by all palatal epithelial cells during palatal fusion (Cui et al., 1998) and therefore cannot localize TGF-beta3 responsiveness. To investigate the role of TGF-beta type III receptor (TbetaR-III) in MEE transformation, we examined the expression pattern of TbetaR-III in the developing palate from E12 to E15 mice in vivo and in vitro by immunohistochemistry and compared the expression pattern to that of type I receptor (TbetaR-I). The expression of TbetaR-III was temporo-spatially restricted to the MEE during palatal fusion, while the expression of TbetaR-I was primarily localized in all palatal epithelia, consistent with the expression patterns of TbetaR-II and TGF-beta3 (Cui et al., 1998). These results support our hypothesis that TbetaR-III localizes and mediates the developmental role of TGF-beta3 on MEE transformation by specific expression in the MEE. TbetaR-III may modulate TGF-beta3 binding to TbetaR-II in the MEE cells to locally enhance TGF-beta3 autocrine signaling through the TbetaR-I/TbetaR-II receptor complex, which contributes to MEE selective epithelial-mesenchymal transformation.
More Related Videos
07:13Isolation and Time-Lapse Imaging of Primary Mouse Embryonic Palatal Mesenchyme Cells to Analyze Collective Movement Attributes
Published on: February 13, 2021
07:26Isolation of Whole Cell Protein Lysates from Mouse Facial Processes and Cultured Palatal Mesenchyme Cells for Phosphoprotein Analysis
Published on: April 1, 2022
Related Concept Videos
TGF - β Signaling Pathway
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
Some...
Receptor Downregulation in MVBs
The EGFR can initiate signaling pathways that lead to cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Overexpression of EGFR stimulates cells to proliferate. Excessive EGFR activation may...
Type IV Collagen of Basal Lamina
A type IV collagen molecule has six alpha chains which can exist in...
Taste Buds and Receptors
Embryonic Connective Tissues
The mesenchyme is the first connective tissue that emerges in the developing embryo. It consists of loosely arranged multipotent mesenchymal cells and reticular fibers in the extracellular matrix. This loose arrangement allows easy migration of cells, which is essential for germ layer positioning, patterning, and organ morphogenesis during embryonic development. Mesenchyme is...