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Updated: Mar 8, 2026

Assessing Signaling Properties of Ectodermal Epithelia During Craniofacial Development
Published on: March 24, 2011
MicroRNAs in ectodermal appendages
D'Juan T Farmer1, Michael T McManus1
1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA; UCSF Diabetes Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA; WM Keck Center for Noncoding RNAs, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Abstract:
The surface ectoderm is the source of ectodermal appendages including hair, teeth, and many glands. The development and function of ectodermal appendages has been researched extensively, but many of the molecular mechanisms that govern the developmental programs of ectodermal appendages remain elusive. While several protein-coding genes are established as key regulators of ectodermal appendage development, the role of noncoding RNAs is an emerging area of investigation. This review highlights recent advances in studies of microRNA-mediated control of ectodermal appendage development using mouse models. We will also discuss future directions and technological advances that will drive the microRNA field forward and expand our understanding of how individual microRNAs control ectodermal appendage development.
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