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Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age

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Analysis of Cell Differentiation, Morphogenesis, and Patterning During Chicken Embryogenesis Using the Soaked-Bead Assay
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Cdc42 is required for chondrogenesis and interdigital programmed cell death during limb development.

Ryo Aizawa1, Atsushi Yamada, Dai Suzuki

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, School of Dentistry, Showa University, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8555, Japan.

Mechanisms of Development
|March 6, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Cdc42 is crucial for mammalian limb development, regulating bone formation and digit separation. Its inactivation causes skeletal defects and hinders chondrocyte differentiation and programmed cell death.

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08:08

Chicken Recombinant Limbs Assay to Understand Morphogenesis, Patterning, and Early Steps in Cell Differentiation

Published on: January 12, 2022

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Cdc42, a Rho GTPase, controls cell functions like cytoskeleton organization and migration.
  • Its specific roles in mammalian limb development are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the physiological function of Cdc42 in mammalian limb development.

Main Methods:

  • Generated limb bud mesenchyme-specific inactivated Cdc42 (Cdc42(fl/fl); Prx1-Cre) mice.
  • Analyzed skeletal and cartilaginous defects, gene expression (Col10, Mmp13, Sox9, Bmp2, Msx1, Msx2), and interdigital programmed cell death (ID-PCD).

Main Results:

  • Cdc42 inactivation led to short limbs, syndactyly, and cranial/sternal abnormalities.
  • Growth plate cartilage showed disrupted chondrocyte organization and delayed endochondral ossification.
  • Reduced Col10 and Mmp13 expression indicated inhibited chondrocyte differentiation.
  • Syndactyly resulted from metacarpal fusion and failed ID-PCD, linked to altered Sox9, Bmp2, Msx1, and Msx2 expression.

Conclusions:

  • Cdc42 is essential for chondrogenesis and interdigital programmed cell death during limb development.
  • Cdc42 plays a vital role in regulating skeletal patterning and bone formation.