the horizontal cells to stop multiplying so there will be only a limited number of these neurons," Dyer said. "So this study also helps to explain the big mystery of how horizontal cells succeed in making that critical ratio."
This latest discovery adds to the growing list of roles Prox1 plays.
"Prox1 has been a central gene in every organ we've studied so far in the developing embryo," Oliver said. "We've previously discovered that Prox1 is critical to the normal development of the liver, the lens of the eye, and the entire lymphatic system, which is a critical part of the immune system."
The ongoing work at St. Jude has demonstrated that during embryo development, Prox1 plays at least three critical roles. It controls the proliferation of cells, prompts cells to migrate from their original positions in the embryo to the location where they will help form a tissue or organ and makes those cells become a very specialized cell type so they perform a specific task in that organ or tissue.
Other authors of this report include Constance L. Cepko (Harvard University, Boston) and Frederick J. Livesey (Harvard University and Wellcome/CRC Institute of Cancer and Developmental Biology, University of Cambridge, UK).
'"/>
Contact: Bonnie Cameron
bonnie.cameron@stjude.org
901-495-4815
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
1-May-2003
Page: 1 2 Related biology news :1.
Sequential signals choreograph embryonic tubule formation2.
Therapeutic cloning no longer a dream, says scientist who produced first cloned embryonic stem cell3.
Conflicting views on embryonic and adult stem cells complicate research in stem cell therapeutics4.
MIT technology jump-starts human embryonic stem cell work5.
Genetic testing of embryos to pick savior sibling OK with most Americans6.
Researchers model embryo implantation and tumour metastasis in fruit flies7.
New human embryonic stem-cell lines to be made available to researchers8.
Most clones doomed from the start, according to Temple University embryologist9.
Jefferson researchers uncover biochemical clues to how cells migrate in embryos10.
Human embryonic stem cells may promise medical advances11.
Destructive wizardry of Ozz-E3 ligase appears key to building skeletal muscles in embryos and adults