在胚胎發(fā)育的時候,，我們有許多內臟器官是通過上皮細胞的反復分支而形成的,。研究人員說，一種被稱作Btbd7的特殊基因對這一過程有幫助,。 Tomohiro Onodera及其同事對小鼠的發(fā)育進行了研究并發(fā)現,，Btbd7蛋白控制著唾液腺和肺臟生長的上皮細胞分支。
應用成像技術,，研究人員能夠觀察到Btbd7調控著這種細胞分支以形成器官特征性結構所需的“裂隙”,。 Onodera及其同事說，Btbd7是通過調控諸如Snail2和 E-cadherin等其它蛋白質來完成這一工作的,。 他們還說,，該蛋白質通過抑制細胞之間的相互粘附而將細胞釋放出來，并使它們能夠按照在哺乳動物中分支器官生長所必需的方向遷徙,。 （生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦原文出處：
Science DOI: 10.1126/science.1191880
Btbd7 Regulates Epithelial Cell Dynamics and Branching Morphogenesis
Tomohiro Onodera,1,* Takayoshi Sakai,1,2,*, Jeff Chi-feng Hsu,1,* Kazue Matsumoto,1 John A. Chiorini,3 Kenneth M. Yamada1,
During embryonic development, many organs form by extensive branching of epithelia through the formation of clefts and buds. In cleft formation, buds are delineated by the conversion of epithelial cell-cell adhesions to cell-matrix adhesions, but the mechanisms of cleft formation are not clear. We have identified Btbd7 as a dynamic regulator of branching morphogenesis. Btbd7 provides a mechanistic link between the extracellular matrix and cleft propagation through its highly focal expression leading to local regulation of Snail2 (Slug), E-cadherin, and epithelial cell motility. Inhibition experiments show that Btbd7 is required for branching of embryonic mammalian salivary glands and lungs. Hence, Btbd7 is a regulatory gene that promotes epithelial tissue remodeling and formation of branched organs.
