Zebrafish scales depend on interactions among Wnt, Ectodysplasin and Hedgehog signaling pathways similar to those underlying feathers, teeth and hair follicles, suggesting a deep homology of ectodermal appendages in vertebrates.
Regenerating neural progenitors of the Xenopus tropicalis tail prioritize differentiation to motor neuron types earlier than proliferation, a decision partly regulated by the transcription factors Pbx3 and Meis1.
Type XVII collagen, a transmembranous protein in basal keratinocytes, suppresses interfollicular epidermal proliferation in neonatal and aged skin, and helps rejuvenate epidermis.
Heterogeneous epidermal stem cells define a niche for tactile sensation via providing a unique ECM and tissue architecture for nerves, revealing their new functions in coordinated sensory organ formation.