BMP and activin receptor expression in lens development

Abstract

Purpose: Members of the TGFβ super-family have been shown to play important roles in lens development, including lens placode formation and fiber differentiation, and also induce changes characteristic of some forms of cataract. Previous studies demonstrated expression of TGFβ receptors during lens morphogenesis. However, the expression patterns of activin and BMP receptors or their signaling mediators, the Smad proteins, have not been well documented. In this study we examine the spatio-temporal expression patterns of activin receptors (ActRIIA, ActRIIB, ALK1, and ALK2), BMP receptors (BMPRII, ALK3, and ALK6), and the distribution of the phosphorylated forms of Smad1 and Smad2 during normal..