The Gene Isl1 Acts as a Stop Signal to the Axial Progenitors (IMAGE)
Caption
During trunk to tail transition in a normal embryo (A), Isl1 is activated exclusively in the progenitors that produce the organs in the trunk. They now cannot make organs anymore and make legs as their final destiny. If there is a failure in the regulation of Isl1 activation and it is extended to the progenitors that form the spine (B), they also receive the stop signal and disappear without a trace. Now these embryos cannot make more vertebrae and malformations are produced, which look similar to those observed in the patients for the spinal segmental disgenesis.
Credit
Credits: Moisés Mallo, IGC.
Usage Restrictions
High-resolution images are available upon request
License
Licensed content