Abstract
What triggers a differentiated cell to naturally change its cell fate? Cell reprogramming is a rare and intriguing phenomenon, from a developmental point of view. It has been mostly involved in boundary sharpening during development, tissue regeneration and cancer. Developmental models of the understanding of pathology-related cell reprogramming are yet to be established. Here we comment on the recently discovered "Mixer Cells" undergoing highly stereotyped developmental reprogramming during Drosophila epidermal morphogenesis. The JNK signaling pathway, which is involved in regenerative cell reprogramming, is essential to Mixer Cell formation. Thus the Mixer Cell model may provide a link between developmental cell reprogramming and regeneration.
