Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.
Submitted on May 17, 2006
Accepted on October 18, 2006
WNT and DKK Determine Hair Follicle Spacing Through a Reaction-Diffusion Mechanism
Stefanie Sick 1, Stefan Reinker 2, Jens Timmer 3, Thomas Schlake 1*
1 Max-Planck Institute of Immunobiology, Stuebeweg 51, 79108 Freiburg, Germany. 2 Institut für Physik, Universität Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Strasse 3, 79104 Freiburg, Germany; Present address: Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland. 3 Institut für Physik, Universität Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Strasse 3, 79104 Freiburg, Germany.
* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
Thomas Schlake , E-mail: schlake{at}immunbio.mpg.de
Mathematical reaction-diffusion models have been suggested todescribe formation of animal pigmentation patterns and distributionof epidermal appendages. However, the crucial signals and invivo mechanisms are still elusive. Here we identify WNT andits inhibitor DKK as primary determinants of murine hair folliclespacing using a combined experimental and computational modelingapproach. Transgenic DKK overexpression reduces overall appendagedensity. Moderate suppression of endogenous WNT signaling forcesfollicles to form clusters during an otherwise normal morphogeneticprogram. These results confirm predictions of a WNT-DKK-specificmathematical model and provide in vivo corroboration of thereaction-diffusion mechanism for epidermal appendage formation.
The editors suggest the following Related Resources on Science sites:
In Science Magazine
PERSPECTIVES
Philip K. Maini, Ruth E. Baker, and Cheng-Ming Chuong (1 December 2006) Science314 (5804), 1397.
[DOI: 10.1126/science.1136396] |Summary »|Full Text »|PDF »
Activation of {beta}-catenin signaling programs embryonic epidermis to hair follicle fate.
Y. Zhang, T. Andl, S. H. Yang, M. Teta, F. Liu, J. T. Seykora, J. W. Tobias, S. Piccolo, R. Schmidt-Ullrich, A. Nagy, et al. (2008)
Development
135, 2161-2172
|Abstract »|Full Text »|PDF »
Dkk1 and Wnt3 interact to control head morphogenesis in the mouse.
S. L. Lewis, P.-L. Khoo, R. A. De Young, K. Steiner, C. Wilcock, M. Mukhopadhyay, H. Westphal, R. V. Jamieson, L. Robb, and P. P. L. Tam (2008)
Development
135, 1791-1801
|Abstract »|Full Text »|PDF »
Dickkopf 1 (DKK1) regulates skin pigmentation and thickness by affecting Wnt/{beta}-catenin signaling in keratinocytes.
Y. Yamaguchi, T. Passeron, T. Hoashi, H. Watabe, F. Rouzaud, K.-i. Yasumoto, T. Hara, C. Tohyama, I. Katayama, T. Miki, et al. (2008)
FASEB J
22, 1009-1020
|Abstract »|Full Text »|PDF »
Sustained epithelial {beta}-catenin activity induces precocious hair development but disrupts hair follicle down-growth and hair shaft formation.
K. Narhi, E. Jarvinen, W. Birchmeier, M. M. Taketo, M. L. Mikkola, and I. Thesleff (2008)
Development
135, 1019-1028
|Abstract »|Full Text »|PDF »
A Gene Regulatory Network Subcircuit Drives a Dynamic Pattern of Gene Expression.
