WNT/β-Catenin Signaling in Vertebrate Eye Development

0472721 - ÚMG 2017 RIV CH eng J - Journal Article
Fujimura, Naoko
WNT/β-Catenin Signaling in Vertebrate Eye Development.
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology. Roč. 4, November (2016), č. článku 138. ISSN 2296-634X. E-ISSN 2296-634X
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT(CZ) LQ1604
Institutional support: RVO:68378050
Keywords : retina * WNT * b-catenin * development * differentiation
Subject RIV: EB - Genetics ; Molecular Biology

The vertebrate eye is a highly specialized sensory organ, which is derived from the anterior neural plate, head surface ectoderm, and neural crest-derived mesenchyme. The single central eye field, generated from the anterior neural plate, divides to give rise to the optic vesicle, which evaginates toward the head surface ectoderm. Subsequently, the surface ectoderm, in conjunction with the optic vesicle invaginates to form the lens vesicle and double-layered optic cup, respectively. This complex process is controlled by transcription factors and several intracellular and extracellular signaling pathways including WNT/β-catenin signaling. This signaling pathway plays an essential role in multiple developmental processes and has a profound effect on cell proliferation and cell fate determination. During eye development, the activity of WNT/β-catenin signaling is tightly controlled. Faulty regulation of WNT/β-catenin signaling results in multiple ocular malformations due to defects in the process of cell fate determination and differentiation. This mini-review summarizes recent findings on the role of WNT/β-catenin signaling in eye development. Whilst this mini-review focuses on loss-of-function and gain-of-function mutants of WNT/β-catenin signaling components, it also highlights some important aspects of β-catenin-independent WNT signaling in the eye development at later stages.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0269953