HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Chai, Y. Articles by Han, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Chai, Y. Articles by Han, J.

TGF-ß SIGNALING AND ITS FUNCTIONAL SIGNIFICANCE IN REGULATING THE FATE OF CRANIAL NEURAL CREST CELLS

Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, 2250 Alcazar Street, CSA 103, Los Angeles, CA 90033;

*corresponding author, ychai{at}usc.edu

Members of the transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) superfamily regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, and control the development and maintenance of most tissues. TGF-ß signal is transmitted through the phosphorylation of Smad proteins by TGF-ß receptor serine/threonine kinase. During craniofacial development, TGF-ß may regulate the fate specification of cranial neural crest cells. These cells are multipotent progenitors and capable of producing diverse cell types upon differentiation. Here we summarize evidence that TGF-ß ligands and their signaling intermediates have significant roles in patterning and specification of cranial neural crest cells. The biological function of TGF-ß is carried out through the regulation of transcriptional factors during embryogenesis.

Key words. Cranial neural crest (CNC) cells, Msx, Smads, TGF-ß, TGF-ß receptors, tooth