Pitx2, a bicoid-type homeobox gene, is involved in a lefty-signaling pathway in determination of left-right asymmetry.
Signaling molecules such as Activin, Sonic hedgehog, Nodal, Lefty, and Vg1 have been found to be involved in determination of left-right (L-R) asymmetry in the chick, mouse, or frog. However, a common signaling pathway has not yet been identified in vertebrates. We report that Pitx2, a bicoid-type homeobox gene expressed asymmetrically in the left lateral plate mesoderm, may be involved in determination of L-R asymmetry in both mouse and chick. Since Pitx2 appears to be downstream of lefty-1 in the mouse pathway, we examined whether mouse Lefty proteins could affect the expression of Pitx2 in the chick. Our results indicate that a common pathway from lefty-1 to Pitx2 likely exists for determination of L-R asymmetry in vertebrates.
Department of Biological Science and Technology, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokushima, Japan.
H
H
Yoshioka
C
C
Meno
K
K
Koshiba
M
M
Sugihara
H
H
Itoh
Y
Y
Ishimaru
T
T
Inoue
H
H
Ohuchi
E V
EV
Semina
J C
JC
Murray
H
H
Hamada
S
S
Noji
D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics*; D002642:Chick Embryo; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005801:Genes, Homeobox / Q000502:physiology*; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D055458:Left-Right Determination Factors; D051379:Mice; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000502:physiology*; D000097577:Homeobox Protein PITX2
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D055458:Left-Right Determination Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D011506:Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D000097577:Homeobox Protein PITX2; C056478:bcd protein, Drosophila; C101485:homeobox protein PITX1; C433629:homeobox protein PITX3