Email this pageMolecular Mechanisms of Palate Development
Project Overview
Development of the mammalian palate involves multiple steps of highly regulated morphogenetic processes that are frequently disturbed during human development, resulting in the common birth defect of cleft palate. The palate arises by outgrowth from the oral sides of the paired maxillary processes flanking the primitive oral cavity. Palatal growth depends on reciprocal interactions between the oral ectoderm and the underlying neural crest derived mesenchyme. To understand the molecular mechanisms regulating palate development, we looked for transcription factors specifically activated at the onset of palatal outgrowth. We identified the Osr2 (Odd-skipped related-2) zinc finger transcription factor as a key regulator of palatal outgrowth (Lan et al., 2004). Using the Osr2 gene as a tool, we have generated mice with specific Cre DNA recombinase expression in the developing palatal mesenchyme (Lan et al., 2007). Using Cre/loxP-mediated tissue-specific gene inactivation strategies, we are dissecting the molecular network, involving Bmp, Shh, and Wnt signaling, regulating the epithelial-mesenchymal interactions controlling palate morphogenesis. In addition, we are generating and characterizing the roles of other transcription factors in the regulation of palate development (e.g., Liu et al., 2008).
This figure shows specific expression of the Osr2 transcription factor during palate development. Mice homozygous for a targeted deletion of Osr2 exhibit cleft palate
(Lan et al., Development 131:3207-3216, 2004).
Contact
Rulang Jiang
University of Rochester
Box 611
601 Elmwood Ave.
Rochester, NY 14642
Office: MRB G-9633
+585-273-1426
rulang_jiang@urmc.
rochester.edu
