Tgf-β superfamily and limb regeneration: Tgf-β to start and Bmp to end.

Axolotls represent a popular model to study how nature solved the problem of regenerating lost appendages in tetrapods. Our work over many years focused on trying to understand how these animals can achieve such a feat and not end up with a scarred up stump. The Tgf-β superfamily represents an interesting family to target since they are involved in wound healing in adults and pattern formation during development.

BMP signaling is essential for sustaining proximo-distal progression in regenerating axolotl limbs.

Amputation of a salamander limb triggers a regeneration process that is perfect. A limited number of genes have been studied in this context and even fewer have been analyzed functionally. In this work, we use the BMP signaling inhibitor LDN193189 on to explore the role of BMPs in regeneration.

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition is mediated by both TGF-β canonical and non-canonical signaling during axolotl limb regeneration.

Axolotls have the amazing ability to regenerate. When compared to humans, axolotls display a very fast wound closure, no scarring and are capable to replace lost appendages perfectly. Understanding the signaling mechanism leading to this perfect healing is a key step to help develop regenerative treatments for humans.

Activation of Smad2 but not Smad3 is required to mediate TGF-β signaling during axolotl limb regeneration.

Axolotls are unique among vertebrates in their ability to regenerate tissues, such as limbs, tail and skin. The axolotl limb is the most studied regenerating structure. The process is well characterized morphologically; however, it is not well understood at the molecular level.

Regulation of Catalytic and Non-catalytic Functions of the Drosophila Ste20 Kinase Slik by Activation Segment Phosphorylation.

Protein kinases carry out important functions in cells both by phosphorylating substrates and by means of regulated non-catalytic activities. Such non-catalytic functions have been ascribed to many kinases, including some members of the Ste20 family. The Drosophila Ste20 kinase Slik phosphorylates and activates Moesin in developing epithelial tissues to promote epithelial tissue integrity.

Culture and transfection of axolotl cells.

The use of cells grown in vitro has been instrumental for multiple aspects of biomedical research and especially molecular and cellular biology. The ability to grow cells from multicellular organisms like humans, squids, or salamanders is important to simplify the analyses and experimental designs to help understand the biology of these organisms. The advent of the first cell culture has allowed scientists to tease apart the cellular functions, and in many situations these experiments help understand what is happening in the whole organism.