Sub-circuits of a gene regulatory network control a developmental epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

ABSTRACT: Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a fundamental cell state change that transforms epithelial to mesenchymal cells during embryonic development, adult tissue repair and cancer metastasis. EMT includes a complex series of intermediate cell state changes including remodeling of the basement membrane, apical constriction, epithelial de-adhesion, directed motility, loss of apical-basal polarity, and acquisition of mesenchymal adhesion and polarity. Transcriptional regulatory state changes must ultimately coordinate the timing and execution of these cell biological processes. A well-characterized gene regulatory network (GRN) in the sea urchin embryo was used to identify the transcription factors that control five distinct cell changes during EMT. Single transcription factors were pertu

SUBMITTER: Saunders LR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3957374 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature