Work

The relationship between sonic Hedgehog signaling, cilia, and neural tube defects

Year: 2010

Type: review

Abstract: The Hedgehog signaling pathway is essential for many aspects of normal embryonic development, including formation and patterning of the neural tube. Absence of the sonic hedgehog (shh) ligand is associated with the midline defect holoprosencephaly, whereas increased Shh signaling is associated with exencephaly and spina bifida. To complicate this apparently simple relationship, mutation of proteins required for function of cilia often leads to impaired Shh signaling and to disruption of neural tube closure. In this article, we review the literature on Shh pathway mutants and discuss the relationship between Shh signaling, cilia, and neural tube defects.

Source: Birth Defects Research Part A Clinical and Molecular Teratology

DOI: 10.1002/bdra.20686

Authors: Jennifer N. Murdoch, Andrew J. Copp

Institutions: Royal Holloway University of London, University College London

Language: English

Topic: Hedgehog Signaling Pathway Studies

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: Wellcome Trust