The Role of Nuclear Receptor Signaling in Vertebrate Liver Development

Proper embryonic development requires precise genetic regulation of cell growth and differentiation. Organogenesis, the origin and formation of internal organs, must be exquisitely choreographed to ensure correct temporal and spatial patterning of functional organs within the developing organism. The liver is a vital organ responsible for hundreds of essential metabolic functions, but the intricate pathways controlling organ specification, differentiation, and positioning have not been fully elucidated. Uncovering the molecular mechanisms involved in hepatogenesis will enhance our understanding of normal liver development as well as inform the design of therapeutics to combat liver disease. Nuclear receptors are evolutionarily recent signal transducers that occupy a special niche in gene regulation, acting as direct connections between a ligand and its downstream transcriptional target. Nuclear receptor signaling governs many physiological processes, however its impact on liver development is not well understood.