Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Heart formation provides an excellent model for studying the molecular basis of cell determination in vertebrate embryos. By combining molecular assays with the experimental approaches of classic embryology, a model for the cell signalling events that initiate cardiogenesis is emerging. Studies of chick, amphibian, and fish embryos demonstrate the inductive role of dorso-anterior endoderm in specifying the cardiac fate of adjacent mesoderm. A consequence of this signalling is the onset of cardiomyogenesis and several transcription factors--Nkx2-5-related, HAND, GATA and MEF-2 families--contribute to these events.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/s0959-437x(97)80010-x

Type

Journal article

Journal

Curr Opin Genet Dev

Publication Date

10/1997

Volume

7

Pages

628 - 633

Keywords

Amphibians, Animals, Body Patterning, Cell Differentiation, Chickens, Embryo, Nonmammalian, Embryonic Induction, Endoderm, Fishes, Heart, Mesoderm, Myocardium, Signal Transduction, Transcription Factors, Vertebrates