Abstract
Regenerative ability varies tremendously across species. A common feature of regeneration of appendages such as limbs, fins, antlers, and tails is the formation of a blastema--a transient structure that houses a pool of progenitor cells that regenerate the missing tissue. We have identified the expression of von Willebrand Factor D and EGF Domains (vwde) as a common feature of blastemas capable of regenerating limbs and fins in a variety of highly regenerative species. Further, vwde expression is tightly linked to the ability to regenerate appendages. Functional experiments demonstrate a requirement for vwde in regeneration and indicate that Vwde is a potent mitogen in the blastema. These data identify a key role for vwde in regenerating blastemas and underscore the power of an evolutionarily-informed approach for identifying conserved genetic components of regeneration.
Footnotes
Domain structures of related genes, specifically putative orthologs, has been updated in Figure 1F. We have also modified the text to reflect these changes.