Sending and receiving intercellular signals

Le 27 juin 2025 à 11h00 Séminaire

Communication between cells is fundamental for the embryonic development and adult physiology of all multicellular organisms. In animals, cell-cell communication is carried out by a small number of conserved signaling pathways (about 20), each consisting of an ordered chain of biochemical steps that link extracellular signals with specific cellular outputs, such as movement, proliferation, growth or differentiation. The steps of a signaling pathway are carefully controlled, to avoid the negative consequences of abnormal activity: insufficient signaling usually leads to birth defects, and excessive signaling is implicated in many cancers. While the biological molecules involved in cell-cell communication were identified a while ago, how signals propagate is still poorly understood. I will present work from our lab aimed at dissecting the molecular mechanisms of two different signaling pathways, Hedgehog and Wnt. I will also discuss the implications of our findings for understanding disease.