Lineage specification in the early mouse embryo

Exp Cell Res. 2014 Feb 1;321(1):32-9. doi: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2013.12.004. Epub 2013 Dec 11.

Abstract

Before the mammalian embryo is ready to implant in the uterine wall, the single cell zygote must divide and differentiate into three distinct tissues; trophectoderm (prospective placenta), primitive endoderm (prospective yolk sac), and pluripotent epiblast cells which will form the embryo proper. In this review I will discuss our current understanding of how positional information, cell polarization, signaling pathways, and transcription factor networks converge to drive and regulate the progressive segregation of the first three cell types in the mouse embryo.

Keywords: Lineage specification; Mouse development; Preimplantation development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blastocyst / cytology*
  • Cell Differentiation*
  • Cell Lineage*
  • Embryo, Mammalian / cytology*
  • Embryo, Mammalian / metabolism
  • Embryonic Stem Cells / cytology*
  • Endoderm / cytology*
  • Mice / embryology*
  • Morphogenesis
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Transcription Factors