Chapter 4 Outline

Cell-to-Cell Communication

Adhesion and Sorting: The Physics of Morphogenesis

  • Differential cell affinity
  • The thermodynamic model of cell interactions
  • Cadherins and cell adhesion
  • Quantity and cohesion

The Extracellular Matrix as a Source of Developmental Signals

  • Macromolecular components of the ECM
  • Integrins: Receptors for ECM molecules

The Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

Induction and competence

  • Defining induction and competence
  • Construction by induction: Building the vertebrate eye

Morphogen Gradients and Signal Transduction Cascades

  • Morphogen gradients
  • Signal transduction cascades: The response to inducers

Paracrine Families: Inducer Molecules and Morphogens

  • Fibroblast growth factors
    • FGF8
    • FGF receptors and the RTK pathway
    • The JAK-STAT pathway
  • The Hedgehog family
    • Hedgehog secretion
    • The Hedgehog pathway
  • The Wnt family
    • Wnt secretion: Preprocessing
    • WNT secretion: negative feedback at the front door
    • The canonical WNT pathway (β-catenin dependent)
    • The noncanonical WNT pathways (β-catenin independent)
  • The TGF-β superfamily
    • TGF-β
    • BMPs
    • Nodal/Activin
    • The SMAD pathway
  • Other paracrine factors

The Cell Biology of Paracrine Signaling

  • Diffusion of paracrine factors
  • Focal membrane protrusions as signaling sources
    • The filopodial cytoneme
    • Cytonemes in vertebrates
    • The primary cilium

Juxtacrine Signaling for Cell Identity

  • The Notch pathway: Juxtaposed ligands and receptors for pattern formation
  • Paracrine and juxtacrine signaling in coordination: Vulval induction in C. elegans
    • NOTCH-DELTA and lateral inhibition
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