ERF and craniosynostosis: Although premature suture fusions and mechanical signals can cause compensatory overgrowth or alterations to neighboring sutures and bones, the frontal bone development defect observed in Nestin-cre/+;ErfLoxP/LoxP mice that do not display craniosynostosis indicates that Erf may have a direct effect on the formation of neural crest-derived frontal and facial bones.