The TALE class homeobox gene Smed-prep defines the anterior compartment for head regeneration.

ABSTRACT: Planaria continue to blossom as a model system for understanding all aspects of regeneration. They provide an opportunity to understand how the replacement of missing tissues from preexisting adult tissue is orchestrated at the molecular level. When amputated along any plane, planaria are capable of regenerating all missing tissue and rescaling all structures to the new size of the animal. Recently, rapid progress has been made in understanding the developmental pathways that control planarian regeneration. In particular Wnt/beta-catenin signaling is central in promoting posterior fates and inhibiting anterior identity. Currently the mechanisms that actively promote anterior identity remain unknown. Here, Smed-prep, encoding a TALE class homeodomain, is described as the first gene necessar

SUBMITTER: Felix DA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2858555 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature