Growth Factors and Signaling Proteins in Craniofacial Development

Regulation of growth and development is controlled by the interactions of cells with each other and the extracellular environment through signal transduction pathways that control the differentiation process by stimulating proliferation or causing cell death. This review will define the common signaling molecules and provide an overview of the general principles of signal transduction events. We also review the signal transduction pathways controlling one specific mechanism found in craniofacial development termed epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) employed during gastrulation, cranial neural crest migration, and secondary palate formation.