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Sonic hedgehog signaling pathway in vertebrate epithelial appendage morphogenesis: perspectives in development and
1Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90033, USA. chuong@pathfinder.hsc.usc.edu
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences : CMLS
|December 29, 2000
Summary
The Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) pathway is crucial for shaping vertebrate epithelial appendages like feathers and teeth. It regulates organ size and form during development and evolution.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Vertebrate epithelial appendages develop from flat epithelia into complex organs with diverse functions.
- These organs share common developmental stages: induction, morphogenesis, differentiation, and cycling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the roles of the Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway in the development of various epithelial appendages.
- To understand SHH's contribution to organ shape, size, and evolutionary novelty.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of SHH pathway involvement across different organ systems.
- Focus on key developmental processes regulated by SHH, including proliferation and patterning.
Main Results:
- SHH is not essential for initial induction or differentiation but is vital for morphogenesis.
- SHH influences cell proliferation, branching, mesenchymal condensation, and fate determination.
- Spatiotemporal SHH activation shapes diverse organ structures.
Conclusions:
- The SHH pathway is a key driver of epithelial appendage morphogenesis and size regulation.
- SHH's morphogenetic activities are likely to drive the evolution of new epithelial appendages.