p63 exerts spatio-temporal control of palatal epithelial cell fate to prevent cleft palate

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006828
• Publication Date: 2017-06-12T13:34:19Z
• Authors: Rose Richardson; Karen Mitchell; Nigel L. Hammond; Maria Rosaria Mollo; Evelyn N. Kouwenh...; Niki D. Wyatt; Ian J. Donaldson; Leo Zeef; Tim Burgis; Rognvald Blance; Simon J. van Heer...; Hendrik G. Stunne...; Huiqing Zhou; Caterina Missero; Rose Anne Romano; Satrajit Sinha; Michael J. Dixon; Jill Dixon
• Keywords: Secondary palate; Cell fate determination

Cleft palate is a common congenital disorder that affects up to 1 in 2500 live births and results considerable morbidity affected individuals their families. The aetiology of cleft complex with both genetic environmental factors implicated. Mutations the transcription factor p63 are one major individual causes palate; however, gene regulatory networks which functions remain only partially characterized. Our findings demonstrate as an essential molecule spatio-temporal control palatal epithelial cell fate ensure appropriate fusion shelves. Initially, induces periderm formation controls its subsequent maintenance prevent premature adhesion between adhesion-competent, intra-oral epithelia. Subsequently, TGFβ3-induced down-regulation medial edge epithelia shelves pre-requisite for by facilitating migration from, reducing proliferative potential of, midline seam thereby preventing palate.