The protein kinase MLTK regulates chondrogenesis by inducing the transcription factor Sox6

• DOI: 10.1242/dev.078675
• Publication Date: 2012-07-05T07:47:49Z
• Authors: Toshiyasu Suzuki; Morioh Kusakabe; Kei Nakayama; Eisuke Nishida
• Keywords: Chondrogenesis; Ectopic expression

Sox9 acts together with Sox5 or Sox6 as a master regulator for chondrogenesis; however, the inter-relationship among these transcription factors remains unclear. Here, we show that protein kinase MLTK plays an essential role in onset of chondrogenesis through triggering induction expression by Sox9. We find knockdown Xenopus embryos results drastic loss craniofacial cartilages without defects neural crest development. also is specifically induced during chondrogenesis, and inhibited knockdown. Remarkably, phenocopies Moreover, ectopic induces Sox9-dependent manner. Our data suggest p38 JNK pathways function downstream chondrogenesis. These identify novel key reveal its action mechanism chondrocyte differentiation embryonic