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Review
. 2009 Feb;129(2):264-5.
doi: 10.1038/jid.2008.404.

The primary cilium: a small yet mighty organelle

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Review

The primary cilium: a small yet mighty organelle

Mindy C DeRouen et al. J Invest Dermatol. 2009 Feb.

Abstract

Primary cilia are small, cylindrical membrane protrusions on most vertebrate cell types. Despite an unassuming appearance, this organelle has proven to be a veritable nexus of tightly regulated cell-signal reception between the epithelium and mesenchyme. In this issue, Lehman et al. describe the necessity of Ift88 and intraflagellar transport for signal reception of the sonic hedgehog pathway in the dermal papilla of developing hair follicles.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Summary of the role of the primary cilium in epithelial–mesenchymal interactions during hair follicle morphogenesis
Smo, smoothed protein. Ptch, patched protein receptor for Shh. β1 Integrin, a laminin-511 receptor.

Comment on

References

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