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Updated: May 19, 2026
06:49
Analysis of Cell Differentiation, Morphogenesis, and Patterning During Chicken Embryogenesis Using the Soaked-Bead Assay
Published on: January 12, 2022
Signaling mechanisms controlling cell fate and embryonic patterning
Norbert Perrimon1, Chrysoula Pitsouli, Ben-Zion Shilo
1Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. perrimon@receptor.med.harvard.edu
Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology
|August 3, 2012
Summary
Developmental signaling pathways control cell fates. Dysregulation of these conserved pathways, like Notch and WNT signaling, can cause diseases such as cancer, highlighting their critical roles.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Signaling
- Genetics
Background:
- Cell fate determination during development relies on signaling pathways responding to extracellular cues.
- Dysregulation of these pathways is implicated in human diseases, notably cancer.
- Despite diverse mechanisms, common organizational and regulatory principles govern these pathways in time and space.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review conserved themes in developmental signaling pathways.
- To illustrate pathway functions using examples from Drosophila.
- To highlight the role of feedback loops and transcriptional cascades in developmental regulation.
Main Methods:
- Review of established literature on developmental signaling pathways.
- Analysis of examples from Drosophila melanogaster, including Notch, Hedgehog, Wingless/WNT, BMP, EGF, and FGF signaling.
- Examination of spatial (short/long-range, morphogen gradients) and temporal (feedback loops, transcriptional cascades) regulation.
Main Results:
- Few core pathways regulate developmental programs across species.
- Signaling pathways exhibit diverse strategies, including short-range and long-range actions.
- Morphogen gradients, feedback loops, and transcriptional cascades are key regulatory mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- Conserved developmental signaling pathways are fundamental to cell fate specification.
- Understanding these pathways and their dysregulation is crucial for disease research, particularly cancer.
- Common themes in spatial and temporal organization provide a framework for studying developmental regulation.
Related Concept Videos
03:14Notch Signaling Pathway
The Notch signaling pathway is a major intracellular signaling pathway that is highly conserved over a broad spectrum of metazoan species. It stands unique from other intracellular signaling mechanisms in animals because notch protein itself acts as the receptor as well as the primary signaling molecule.
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...
03:14Notch Signaling Pathway
The Notch signaling pathway is a major intracellular signaling pathway that is highly conserved over a broad spectrum of metazoan species. It stands unique from other intracellular signaling mechanisms in animals because notch protein itself acts as the receptor as well as the primary signaling molecule.
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...
The Notch gene came into the limelight in 1914 after the discovery that its mutation in Drosophila melanogaster leads to a serrated (or "notched") wing margin phenotype. It was not until 1985...
01:51Determination
During embryogenesis, cells become progressively committed to different fates through a two-step process: specification followed by determination. Specification is demonstrated by removing a segment of an early embryo, “neutrally” culturing the tissue in vitro—for example, in a petri dish with simple medium—and then observing the derivatives. If the cultured region gives rise to cell types that it would normally generate in the embryo, this means that it is specified. In contrast, determination...
01:23Overview of Cell Signaling
Despite the protective membrane that separates a cell from the environment, cells need the ability to detect and respond to environmental changes. Additionally, cells often need to communicate with one another. Unicellular and multicellular organisms use a variety of cell signaling mechanisms to communicate with the environment.
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
01:23Overview of Cell Signaling
Despite the protective membrane that separates a cell from the environment, cells need the ability to detect and respond to environmental changes. Additionally, cells often need to communicate with one another. Unicellular and multicellular organisms use a variety of cell signaling mechanisms to communicate with the environment.
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
Cells respond to many types of information, often through receptor proteins positioned on the membrane. For example, skin cells respond to and transmit touch...
02:03What is Cell Signaling?
Despite the protective membrane that separates a cell from the environment, cells need the ability to detect and respond to environmental changes. Additionally, cells often need to communicate with one another. Unicellular and multicellular organisms use a variety of cell signaling mechanisms to communicate to respond to the environment.