Gene expression profiling of the mandibular arch in mice with a conditional inactivation of Alk5 at embryonic day E11.5.

The overall goal of this project is to investigate the role of TGF-beta signaling in tissue-tissue interactions between myogenic precursors of craniofacial muscles and cranial neural crest cells (CNCCs). Here, we conducted gene expression profiling of the mandibular arch from mice at embryonic day E11.5 with a CNCC-specific conditional inactivation of the TGF-beta receptor type 1 gene Alk5. These mice provide a model of microglossia as well as disrupted extraocular and masticatory muscle development, which are congenital birth defects commonly observed in several syndromic conditions.