PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - N.D. Leigh
AU  - S. Sessa
AU  - A.C. Dragalzew
AU  - D. Payzin-Dogru
AU  - J.F. Sousa
AU  - A.N. Aggouras
AU  - K. Johnson
AU  - G.S. Dunlap
AU  - B.J. Haas
AU  - M. Levin
AU  - I. Schneider
AU  - J.L. Whited
TI  - von Willebrand Factor D and EGF Domains is an evolutionarily conserved and required feature of blastemas capable of multi-tissue appendage regeneration
AID  - 10.1101/842948
DP  - 2019 Jan 01
TA  - bioRxiv
PG  - 842948
4099  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2019/11/15/842948.short
4100  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2019/11/15/842948.full
AB  - 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.