One of developmental biology's most perplexing questions concerns what signals transform masses of undifferentiated cells into tremendously complex organisms, a process called ontogeny. New research by University at Buffalo scientists, published in PLOS ONE, provides evidence that it all begins with a single "master" growth factor receptor that regulates the entire genome.

"The finding provides a new level of understanding of the fundamental aspects of how organisms develop," says senior author Michal K. Stachowiak, PhD, professor in the Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences in the UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and senior author. He also directs the Stem Cell Engraftment and In Vivo Analysis Facility and the Stem Cell Culture and Training Facility at the Western New York Stem Cell Culture and Analysis Center at UB.

"Our research shows how a single growth factor receptor protein moves directly to the nucleus in order to program the entire genome," he said.

The research challenges a long-held supposition in biology that specific types of growth factors only functioned at a cell's surface. For two decades, Stachowiak's team has been intrigued by the possibility that growth factors function from within the nucleus, a point, he says, this current paper finally proves.

A more advanced understanding of how organisms form, based on this work, has the potential to significantly enhance the understanding and treatment of cancers, which result from uncontrolled development as well as congenital diseases, the researchers say. The new research also will contribute to the understanding of how stem cells work.

This work was conducted on mouse embryonic stem cells, not human cells.