Cytoskeletal proteins and morphogenesis in planarians

Authors

  • A Fagotti Department of Cellular and Environmental Biology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
  • F Simoncelli Department of Cellular and Environmental Biology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
  • I Di Rosa Department of Cellular and Environmental Biology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
  • R Pascolini Department of Cellular and Environmental Biology, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy

Keywords:

planarian morphogenesis, actin, tubulin

Abstract

Regeneration processes employ a series of differentiative events related to various embryonic
morphogenetic phenomena in which the cytoskeleton plays a fundamental role. Planarians are an
excellent model to study development mechanism because they show an exceptional physiological
morphogenetic plasticity that is also at the basis of their extraordinary regenerative ability. In this
paper we discuss results concerning two cytoskeleton components, actin and tubulin, during
morphogenetic processes of the planarian Schmidtea polychroa. Comparative studies on cytoskeleton
function during morphogenetic processes in evolutionary-distant animal models can offer important
new insights in the fields of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine.

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Published

2006-11-29

Issue

Section

Minireview