在胚胎發(fā)育的時(shí)候,，我們有許多內(nèi)臟器官是通過(guò)上皮細(xì)胞的反復(fù)分支而形成的。研究人員說(shuō),，一種被稱作Btbd7的特殊基因?qū)@一過(guò)程有幫助,。 Tomohiro Onodera及其同事對(duì)小鼠的發(fā)育進(jìn)行了研究并發(fā)現(xiàn),，Btbd7蛋白控制著唾液腺和肺臟生長(zhǎng)的上皮細(xì)胞分支,。
應(yīng)用成像技術(shù),，研究人員能夠觀察到Btbd7調(diào)控著這種細(xì)胞分支以形成器官特征性結(jié)構(gòu)所需的“裂隙”。 Onodera及其同事說(shuō),，Btbd7是通過(guò)調(diào)控諸如Snail2和 E-cadherin等其它蛋白質(zhì)來(lái)完成這一工作的,。 他們還說(shuō)，該蛋白質(zhì)通過(guò)抑制細(xì)胞之間的相互粘附而將細(xì)胞釋放出來(lái),，并使它們能夠按照在哺乳動(dòng)物中分支器官生長(zhǎng)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.
