Planar cell polarity signaling in craniofacial development
- Authors
- Topczewski, J., Dale, R.M., and Sisson, B.E.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-121127-7
- Date
- 2011
- Source
- Organogenesis 7(4): 255-259 (Review)
- Registered Authors
- Dale, Rodney M., Sisson, Barbara E., Topczewski, Jacek
- Keywords
- none
- MeSH Terms
-
- Animals
- Cell Polarity*
- Face/embryology*
- Neural Crest/cytology
- Signal Transduction*
- Skull/cytology*
- Skull/embryology*
- Wnt Proteins/metabolism
- PubMed
- 22134372 Full text @ Organogenesis
Out of the several signaling pathways controlling craniofacial development, the role of planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling is relatively poorly understood. This pathway, originally identified as a mechanism to maintain cell polarity within the epithelial cells of the Drosophila wing, has been linked to the proper development of a wide variety of tissues in vertebrates and invertebrates. While many of the pathway members are conserved, it appears that some of the members of the pathway act in a tissue-specific manner. Here, we discuss the role of this pathway in vertebrate craniofacial development, highlighting cranial neural crest migration, skull and palate formation and the role of non-traditional modulators of PCP signaling within this developmental process.