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PMID: 17434473 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review

The SynMuv genes of Caenorhabditis elegans in vulval development and beyond.

Developmental biology ·Vol. 306 ·No. 1 ·2007-06-01 ·Pages 1-9

Fay DS, Yochem J

Abstract

For a nonessential diminutive organ comprised of only 22 nuclei, the Caenorhabditis elegans vulva has done very well for itself. The status of the vulva as an overachiever is in part due to its inherent structural simplicity as well as to the intricate regulation of its induction and development. Studies over the past twenty years have shown the vulva to be a microcosm for organogenesis and a model for the integration of complex signaling pathways. Furthermore, many of these signaling molecules are themselves associated with cancer in mammals. This review focuses on what is perhaps the most intriguing and complex story to emerge from these studies thus far, the role of the Synthetic Multivulval (SynMuv) genes in controlling vulval cell-fate adoption. Recent advances have led to a greater mechanistic understanding of how these genes function during vulval development and have also identified roles for these genes in diverse developmental processes.

MeSH Terms
Animals Caenorhabditis elegans/anatomy & histology,genetics,growth & development Female Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental Genes, Helminth/genetics,physiology Organogenesis/genetics Ovum Transcription, Genetic Vulva/anatomy & histology,growth & development
Authors & Affiliations
2 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Fay David S
University of Wyoming, College of Agriculture, Department of Molecular Biology, Dept 3944, 1000 E. University Avenue, Laramie, WY 82071, USA. davidfay@uwyo.edu <davidfay@uwyo.edu>
Yochem John
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Article Info
Journal
Developmental biology
Abbr.
Dev Biol
ISSN
0012-1606
DOI
10.1016/j.ydbio.2007.03.016
Email
davidfay@uwyo.edu
Published
2007-06-01
Epub
2007-00-20
Pages
1-9
Language
English
Region
United States
NLM ID
0372762
PMCID
PMC1955466
Subset
IM
Grants
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM066868 · United States
NIGMS NIH HHS · R01 GM066868-03 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2007.03.016 PMC Full Text View journal details
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