Roles of nodal-lefty regulatory loops in embryonic patterning of vertebrates.
Nodal is a signalling molecule that belongs to the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily of proteins, and Lefty proteins are antagonists of Nodal signalling. The nodal and lefty genes form positive and negative regulatory loops that resemble the reaction-diffusion system. As a pair, these genes control various events of vertebrate embryonic patterning, including left-right specification and mesoderm formation. In this review, we will focus on recent studies that have addressed the roles of nodal and lefty in mouse development.
Juan
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Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Osaka University, 1-3 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Hamada
H
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D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D055458:Left-Right Determination Factors; D051379:Mice; D055457:Nodal Protein; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics*; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000196:embryology*
D055458:Left-Right Determination Factors; D055457:Nodal Protein; C526008:Nodal protein, mouse; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta