Frizzled6 controls hair patterning in mice

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004 Jun 22;101(25):9277-81. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0402802101. Epub 2004 May 28.

Abstract

Hair whorls and other macroscopic hair patterns are found in a variety of mammalian species, including humans. We show here that Frizzled6 (Fz6), one member of a large family of integral membrane Wnt receptors, controls macroscopic hair patterning in the mouse. Fz6 is expressed in the skin and hair follicles, and targeted deletion of the Fz6 gene produces stereotyped whorls on the hind feet, variable whorls and tufts on the head, and misorientation of hairs on the torso. Embryo chimera experiments imply that Fz6 acts locally to control or propagate the macroscopic hair pattern and that epithelial cells rather than melanocytes are the source of Fz6-dependent signaling. The Fz6 phenotype strongly resembles the wing-hair and bristle patterning defects observed in Drosophila frizzled mutants. These data imply that hair patterning in mammals uses a Fz-dependent tissue polarity system similar to the one that patterns the Drosophila cuticle.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Body Patterning / physiology*
  • Embryonic and Fetal Development
  • Frizzled Receptors
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Hair / embryology*
  • Hair / growth & development
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Peptide Fragments / analysis
  • Peptide Fragments / immunology
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / deficiency
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / physiology*
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / deficiency
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / genetics*
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / metabolism

Substances

  • FZD6 protein, human
  • Frizzled Receptors
  • Fzd6 protein, mouse
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled