Wnt Target Gene Ascl4 Is Dispensable for Skin Appendage Development

The study identifies Achaete-scute complex-like 4 (Ascl4) as a new target of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which is crucial for the development of skin appendages such as hair follicles and teeth. Despite Ascl4's expression in the signaling centers of these appendages, the study reveals that mice lacking Ascl4 exhibit no noticeable defects in the morphogenesis of hair follicles, teeth, or mammary glands. This suggests that Ascl4 is not essential for the development of these structures and implies that other transcription factors might compensate for its absence. Further research is needed to explore this compensatory mechanism.