Full Text Available

Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.

Limbs gone batty : the role of the anterior-posterior patterning signal, Sonic Hedgehog, in the development of the unique bat limb

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-88).

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Hockman, Dorit
Other Authors: Illing, Nicola
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology 2014
Subjects:
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1867613184005767168
access_status_str Open Access
author Hockman, Dorit
author2 Illing, Nicola
author_browse Hockman, Dorit
Illing, Nicola
author_facet Illing, Nicola
Hockman, Dorit
author_sort Hockman, Dorit
collection Thesis
description Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-88).
format Thesis
id oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/4272
institution University of Cape Town (South Africa)
language eng
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:32:06.010Z
license_str Not specified — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
publishDate 2014
publishDateRange 2014
publishDateSort 2014
publisher Department of Molecular and Cell Biology
publisherStr Department of Molecular and Cell Biology
record_format dspace
source_str UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/4272 Limbs gone batty : the role of the anterior-posterior patterning signal, Sonic Hedgehog, in the development of the unique bat limb Hockman, Dorit Illing, Nicola Jacobs, David S Molecular Biology Includes bibliographical references (leaves 78-88). The unique skeletal structure of the bat forelimb and hindlimb provides a new and exciting model for the field of evolutionary developmental biology, which seeks to reveal the molecular mechanisms behind vertebrate limb diversity. The digits of the bat forelimb, excluding the thumb, are considerably elongated and webbed. The hindlimb digits are free of webbing and are of uniform length, lacking the asymmetrical patterning of the forelimb. In this study, gene expression analysis has revealed that changes in the spatial and temporal expression patterns of the anteriorposterior patterning signal, Sonic hedgehog (Shh), and its downstream target, Patched 1 (PtcJ), have contributed to the development of the unique bat limb. The embryonic development of Miniopterus natalensis (Miniopteridae) is described for the first time and the expression patterns of Shh and PtcJ in the developing limbs of this species are compared to those in Carollia perspicillata (Phyllostomidae) and the mouse. Early in bat limb development (stage 14), Shh expression in the ZPA appears to be anteriorly expanded when compared to the mouse. This observation is in line with the reported expansion of Fgf8 expression in the AER (Cretekos et al. 2007) and reveals that an enhancement of the Shh-Fgf positive feedback loop may be responsible for the initial posterior expansion of the bat forelimb. Later in development (stage 16) Shh and PtcJ acquire a novel domain of expression within the interdigital tissue of both the bat forelimb and hindlimb. These expression patterns parallel the reported up-regulation of Fgf8, Gremlin and Bmp2 in the interdigital tissue of C. perspicillata (Weatherbee et al. 2006) and support the hypothesis that the Shh-Fgfpositive feedback loop is re-initiated in the interdigital tissue of the bat limbs. The cell survival and proliferation signals provided by the Shh-Fgf signalling loop most likely contribute to the lengthening of the posterior forelimb digits, the survival of the tissue between the forelimb digits and the extension of digits 1 and 5 of the hindlimb to the same length of the remaining digits. The novel Shh and PtcJ expression patterns were observed in both M natalensis and C. perspicillata, supporting the monophyly of the chiropteran sub-order, Verspertilioniformes. 2014-07-30T17:38:27Z 2014-07-30T17:38:27Z 2007 Master Thesis Masters MSc http://hdl.handle.net/11427/4272 eng application/pdf Department of Molecular and Cell Biology Faculty of Science University of Cape Town
spellingShingle Molecular Biology
Hockman, Dorit
Limbs gone batty : the role of the anterior-posterior patterning signal, Sonic Hedgehog, in the development of the unique bat limb
thesis_degree_str Master's
title Limbs gone batty : the role of the anterior-posterior patterning signal, Sonic Hedgehog, in the development of the unique bat limb
title_full Limbs gone batty : the role of the anterior-posterior patterning signal, Sonic Hedgehog, in the development of the unique bat limb
title_fullStr Limbs gone batty : the role of the anterior-posterior patterning signal, Sonic Hedgehog, in the development of the unique bat limb
title_full_unstemmed Limbs gone batty : the role of the anterior-posterior patterning signal, Sonic Hedgehog, in the development of the unique bat limb
title_short Limbs gone batty : the role of the anterior-posterior patterning signal, Sonic Hedgehog, in the development of the unique bat limb
title_sort limbs gone batty the role of the anterior posterior patterning signal sonic hedgehog in the development of the unique bat limb
topic Molecular Biology
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/4272
work_keys_str_mv AT hockmandorit limbsgonebattytheroleoftheanteriorposteriorpatterningsignalsonichedgehoginthedevelopmentoftheuniquebatlimb