The development of the mammalian musculoskeletal system involves complex molecular and cellular interactions during embryogenesis. Using the mouse as a model organism, we study these interactions to understand how they direct early development of the musculoskeletal system. The musculoskeletal system derives from structures in the early embryo called somites.(figure 1)

Somites are segmented blocks of mesoderm that derive from undifferentiated presomitic mesoderm (psm). Under the influence of signals from neighboring tissues, the somite becomes patterned along the dorso-ventral axis into two tissue types, the dermomyotome and sclerotome. The dermomyotome gives rise to skin and skeletal muscles, while the sclerotome gives rise to ribs and vertebrae. Patterning of the somite into dermomyotome and sclerotome occurs within the first five somites. (figure 2)

The goals of my research are to identify novel genes involved in the early differentiation of somite derivatives, and to understand how these genes are transcriptionally regulated.

To identify novel genes expressed in the somites we performed an analysis of gene expression in the early somites using a microarray approach.

To understand how genes involved in the early differentiation of somite derivatives are transcriptionally regulated, I have focused on studying genes expressed in one somite derivative, the sclerotome.