Developmental Genetics of the Pharyngeal Arch System

The pharyngeal arches are embryonic structures that develop into the face, neck, a part of the heart, and several endocrine glands in animals. They are thought to have played a key role in vertebrate evolution as their derivatives impact the mode of feeding and breathing. Moreover, perturbation in pharyngeal arch development is associated with several major groups of birth defects in humans. During early embryonic development, cells from all three germ layers come together to assemble the pharyngeal arches. Subsequently, the pharyngeal arches undergo growth, morphogenesis, and cell type differentiation to give rise to musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, neural, and glandular components. These processes are guided by interactions amongst different tissues, via signaling molecules. A large number of genes, with a complex network of regulatory relationships, govern each aspect of pharyngeal arch development. With the advance of molecular genetics tools in model organisms such as mice, we are beginning to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying development of the pharyngeal arches and related birth defects. This eBook will provide an introduction into development of the pharyngeal arch system, with a detailed discussion on the genetic regulation of this process.

Jeffry Cesario, Ph.D., received his B.S. in Biochemistry from Bucknell University in 2003. During this time, he studied the role of viral tegument of the Cytomegalovirus, a type of herpes virus, in the laboratory Dr. Marie Pizzorno-Simpson. He assisted in the analysis of specific viral proteins to determine their importance during infection of certain cell types. Continuing on from this early research experience, Dr. Cesario obtained his Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics and Microbiology from Rutgers University in 2010. For his Ph.D. thesis, he studied the regulation of spindle assembly in mitosis and meiosis using fruit flies as a model system in Dr. Kim McKim's laboratry. His work provided novel insights on the role of a small GTPase Ran during female meiosis. Dr. Cesario then joined the Department of Basic Science and Craniofacial Biology at New York University College of Dentistry as a postdoctoral researcher. In the laboratory of Dr. Juhee Jeong, Dr. Cesario has studied the genetic regulation of mammalian craniofacial development, and the molecular etiology of related birth defects such as cleft palate, tooth agenesis, and craniosynostosis. In particular, he identified a novel genetic pathway downstream of LHX transcription factors that is essential for normal palate development. Dr. Cesario continues his research with Dr. Juhee Jeong, investigating the complex interactions of genetic and environmental factors in the manifestation of craniofacial birth defects.

Andre Landin Malt obtained most of his scientific education in the biology program of the University Paris VII Denis Diderot in France, where he received his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. For his doctoral degree, he studied the role of a transcription factor TEAD1 in cancer progression, under the mentorship of Dr. Domenico and Dr. Zider at the Jacques Monod Institute in Paris. Subsequently, he moved to New York City and received postdoctoral training in Dr. Juhee Jeong's laboratory at New York University College of Dentistry. His work focused on identifying and characterizing cisregulatory elements in the genome that are important for craniofacial development. Dr Landin Malt is currently a research associate at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, working on inner ear development.

Juhee Jeong received her B.S. in Biological Sciences from Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), and her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Harvard University. She performed her thesis research in the laboratory of Dr. Andy McMahon, where she studied the function and regulation of the Hedgehog signaling pathway during mouse development. After receiving her Ph.D., Dr. Jeong joined the laboratory of Dr. John Rubenstein at University of California, San Francisco for postdoctoral training. Here, she investigated the mechanism underlying the regulation of jaw development by DLX transcription factors. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Basic Science and Craniofacial Biology at New York University College of Dentistry. Her laboratory works on elucidating the gene regulatory network of craniofacial development through multidisciplinary approaches including mouse genetics, genomics, biochemistry and molecular biology techniques.