Wnt/PCP signaling: a veritable polar star in establishing patterns of polarity in embryonic tissues

JR Barrow - Seminars in cell & developmental biology, 2006 - Elsevier
Seminars in cell & developmental biology, 2006Elsevier
Embryonic patterning has traditionally been viewed as the establishment of spatially
significant gene expression in response to secreted signals. Recent work has highlighted
the role of the Wnt/planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway in patterning tissues. Rather than
establishing characteristic arrays of gene expression, however, this pathway functions to
institute uniform polarity of cells within a tissue. Cells thus polarized can undergo directed
migrations, cell divisions, etc., which are essential for normal morphogenesis. In this review …
Embryonic patterning has traditionally been viewed as the establishment of spatially significant gene expression in response to secreted signals. Recent work has highlighted the role of the Wnt/planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway in patterning tissues. Rather than establishing characteristic arrays of gene expression, however, this pathway functions to institute uniform polarity of cells within a tissue. Cells thus polarized can undergo directed migrations, cell divisions, etc., which are essential for normal morphogenesis. In this review, I will highlight the similarities between mechanisms that establish patterns of polarity between Drosophila and vertebrates. Further, I will discuss recent advances with regard to Wnt/PCP signaling in vertebrates.
Elsevier