Avian facial morphogenesis is regulated by c-Jun N-terminal kinase/planar cell polarity (JNK/PCP) wingless-related (WNT) signaling.

ABSTRACT: Wingless-related proteins (WNTs) regulate extension of the central axis of the vertebrate embryo (convergent extension) as well as morphogenesis of organs such as limbs and kidneys. Here, we asked whether WNT signaling directs facial morphogenesis using a targeted approach in chicken embryos. WNT11 is thought to mainly act via β-catenin-independent pathways, and little is known about its role in craniofacial development. RCAS::WNT11 retrovirus was injected into the maxillary prominence, and the majority of embryos developed notches in the upper beak or the equivalent of cleft lip. Three-dimensional morphometric analysis revealed that WNT11 prevented lengthening of the maxillary prominence, which was due in part to decreased proliferation. We next determined, using a series of luciferase re

SUBMITTER: Geetha-Loganathan P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4148847 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature