First published online August 2, 2004
Development 131, 1601e (2004)
© The Company of Biologists Limited
Try a little tendon-ness
The vertebrate axial musculoskeletal system arises from distinct somitic
compartments: the axial skeleton develops from the sclerotome, the skeletal
muscle from the myotome and the axial tendons from a region of the sclerotome
close to the myotome, called the syndetome, which is defined by expression of
the gene scleraxis (Scx). On
p. 3885, Brent and
Tabin determine the molecular mechanisms responsible for positioning the
syndetome. The group has shown before that FGF signalling from the myotome is
necessary and sufficient for Scx expression. Here, the researchers
report that two transcriptional targets and effectors of FGF signalling
– Pea3 and Erm – are required for FGF-mediated
induction of Scx. They propose a model for tendon development in
which FGFs from the myotome activate Pea3 and Erm expression
in the sclerotome. Further FGF signalling then activates Pea3 and
Erm, which directly or indirectly trigger the transcription of
Scx.
Related articles in Development:
- FGF acts directly on the somitic tendon progenitors through the Ets transcription factors Pea3 and Erm to regulate scleraxis expression
- Ava E. Brent and Clifford J. Tabin
Development 2004 131: 3885-3896.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
