22. 04. 2025
Role of noncanonical Wnt pathway in shaping the face
Lecturer: Kleopatra Kytraiotou, M.Sc. / Department of Developmental Biology
Annotation: Craniofacial development is a highly coordinated process that depends on the precise regulation of cellular behaviours and signalling pathways, including the non-canonical Wnt pathway. Disruptions in this pathway, particularly involving Wnt5a, have been associated with craniofacial malformations. Using Wnt5a conditional knockout mouse models, our findings show that loss of Wnt5a leads to defects in cell polarity, orientation of cell division, and cytoskeletal organisation, resulting in morphological abnormalities such as shortening of facial bones. We are currently employing single-cell transcriptomic analyses to uncover gene expression changes underlying these phenotypes. Together, these findings connect cellular dynamics to tissue morphogenesis and provide insight into how Wnt/PCP pathway disruption contributes to craniofacial malformations.
