Relevant Papers

This source is critical for understanding how initial cell fate specification is physically coupled with organ morphogenesis during foregut development. It moves beyond simply identifying master transcription factors involved to reveal a specific molecular mechanism: NKX2-1 directly represses the signaling gene Efnb2 (EPHRIN-B2) in the ventral endoderm to establish a sharp molecular boundary.

This study demonstrates that this boundary is necessary for effective tracheoesophageal (TE) separation, as it drives the cell sorting necessary to partition the foregut into two distinct organs. Loss of EPH/EPHRIN mediated sorting is also shown to lead to conditions including tracheoesophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula.