2016 Group Project 4

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2016 Student Projects 
Signalling: 1 Wnt | 2 Notch | 3 FGF Receptor | 4 Hedgehog | 5 T-box | 6 TGF-Beta
2016 Group Project Topic - Signaling in Development

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This page is an undergraduate science embryology student project and may contain inaccuracies in either descriptions or acknowledgements.
Group Assessment Criteria  
Mark Hill.jpg Science Student Projects
  1. The key points relating to the topic that your group allocated are clearly described.
  2. The choice of content, headings and sub-headings, diagrams, tables, graphs show a good understanding of the topic area.
  3. Content is correctly cited and referenced.
  4. The wiki has an element of teaching at a peer level using the student's own innovative diagrams, tables or figures and/or using interesting examples or explanations.
  5. Evidence of significant research relating to basic and applied sciences that goes beyond the formal teaching activities.
  6. Relates the topic and content of the Wiki entry to learning aims of embryology.
  7. Clearly reflects on editing/feedback from group peers and articulates how the Wiki could be improved (or not) based on peer comments/feedback. Demonstrates an ability to review own work when criticised in an open edited wiki format. Reflects on what was learned from the process of editing a peer's wiki.
  8. Evaluates own performance and that of group peers to give a rounded summary of this wiki process in terms of group effort and achievement.
  9. The content of the wiki should demonstrate to the reader that your group has researched adequately on this topic and covered the key areas necessary to inform your peers in their learning.
  10. Develops and edits the wiki entries in accordance with the above guidelines.
More Information on Assessment Criteria | Science Student Projects

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Hedgehog signalling pathway

History

Function

Neural development

Organogenesis

Mechanism

Animal models

Blockage of Shh Signalling in Forebrain Neuroectoderm in Chick Embryos

The Hedgehog signalling pathway plays a significant role in embryonic development, particularly of the forebrain. Due to its role in development of craniofacial features by contributing to the epithelia of the frontonasal, maxillary, and pharyngeal ectoderm, a disruption in this pathway can result in a variety of birth deformities including holoprosencephaly (HPE), where the prosencephalon (forebrain) fails to divide into 2 separate hemispheres, telencephalon and diencephalon, as well as cleft lip and palate. The function of Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) and its signalling pathway on the formation of forebrain neuroectoderm was studied in chick embryos.

It was found that the disruption of Shh signalling in the neural tube of chick embryos resulted in the lack of division of the forebrain into the diencephalon and telencephalon. This is in fact, as stated earlier, the fundamental cause of the rare condition, holoprosencephaly. It was discovered that the Shh signalling pathway in the diencephalon was responsible for gene expression in the telencephalon.

In addition, through experimentation on chick embryos it was found that through Shh signalling the development of the forebrain regulates and controls facial morphogenesis, particularly of the upper and middle face. Therefore, interference with Shh signalling in the forebrain prevents this intrinsic communication, thus hindering Shh expression in facial ectoderm. This results in brain malformation accompanied by facial disfiguration as seen in patients suffering from HPE. Other malformations caused by blockage of Shh signalling in craniofacial development include, hypotelorism (decreased space between the orbits), growth restriction as well as cleft lip and palate as mentioned previously.

A commonality discovered among all forms of Shh signalling disruption was two facial defects, “the loss of mediolateral expansion of the face and absence of proximodistal outgrowth of the frontonasal prominence” (Ralph et al., 2005). Through reference to studies performed on chick and mice embryos, it was found that Shh signalling is particularly vital in development of maxillary and frontonasal components of the cranium.

This breakthrough study on the inhibition of Shh signalling in chick embryos has significantly filled the gap in our understanding of the Sonic Hedgehog signalling pathway. It is evident that this pathway is crucial in the development of the forebrain and in turn regulates and controls the development of the facial skeleton. This is further proven through the observation that in the event of Shh signalling inhibition there is a development of craniofacial malformations.

Shh knockout mice

Drosophila melanogaster

Clinical significance

Human disease

Holoprosencephaly

Cleft Lip and Palate

Diagnosis

Current research

References

[1]

[2]

  1. <pubmed>15979605</pubmed>
  2. Holoprosencephaly - NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders). (2016). NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders). Retrieved 10 September 2016, from http://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/holoprosencephaly/