title: Roles of nodal-lefty regulatory loops in embryonic patterning of vertebrates.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Osaka University, 1-3 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Juan
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hamada
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D055458:Left-Right Determination Factors; D055457:Nodal Protein; C526008:Nodal protein, mouse; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta