About
Abstract:
The transforming growth factor receptor 1 (Tgfbr1) is widely known for its multiple roles in physiological and pathological activities, including maintaining immune homeostasis, promoting stem cell activity, tissue repair and regeneration, and its involvement in tumorigenesis. I will show here that before all those activities, this receptor plays an essential role during development organizing the outlets of the digestive, excretory and genital systems and promoting formation of the hindlimbs and external genitalia. I will also show that in the absence of Trgfr1 the genitals are converted to legs, uncovering a remarkable plasticity of the genital and hindlimb primordia that might have played a role in vertebrate evolution. I will discuss our data indicating that Tgfbr1 controls this plasticity by regulating the regulatory landscape of the tissue. These findings might have deep implications to understand not only vertebrate development and evolution, but also how Tgfbr1 controls other physiological and pathological processes in which it is involved.
Hosted by Shahragim Tajbakhsh


