Making a commitment: cell lineage allocation and axis patterning in the early mouse embryo

Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2009 Feb;10(2):91-103. doi: 10.1038/nrm2618. Epub 2009 Jan 8.

Abstract

Genetic studies have identified the key signalling pathways and developmentally regulated transcription factors that govern cell lineage allocation and axis patterning in the early mammalian embryo. Recent advances have uncovered details of the molecular circuits that tightly control cell growth and differentiation in the mammalian embryo from the blastocyst stage, through the establishment of initial anterior-posterior polarity, to gastrulation, when the germ cells are set aside and the three primary germ layers are specified. Relevant studies in lower vertebrates indicate the conservation and divergence of regulatory mechanisms for cell lineage allocation and axis patterning.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Body Patterning / physiology*
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / genetics
  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Lineage*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Embryo, Mammalian* / anatomy & histology
  • Embryo, Mammalian* / physiology
  • Gastrulation
  • Mice
  • Morphogenesis
  • Positive Regulatory Domain I-Binding Factor 1
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Signal Transduction / physiology
  • Smad Proteins / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Bone Morphogenetic Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Prdm1 protein, mouse
  • Prdm14 protein, mouse
  • RNA-Binding Proteins
  • Smad Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Positive Regulatory Domain I-Binding Factor 1