title: Establishment of left-right asymmetry.
abstract: The vertebrate body plan has bilateral symmetry and left-right asymmetries that are highly conserved. The molecular pathways for left-right development are beginning to be elucidated. Several distinct mechanisms to initiate the vertebrate left-right axis have been proposed. These mechanisms appear to converge on highly conserved expression patterns of genes in the transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta) family of cell-cell signaling factors, nodal and lefty-2, and subsequently the expression of the transcription regulator Pitx2, in left lateral plate mesoderm. It is possible that downstream signaling pathways diverge in distinct classes of vertebrates.
authors.affiliation: Huntsman Cancer Institute, Center for Children, University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84112, USA.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yost
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000097577:Homeobox Protein PITX2
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D000097577:Homeobox Protein PITX2; C101485:homeobox protein PITX1; C433629:homeobox protein PITX3