title: Establishment of vertebrate left-right asymmetry.
abstract: The generation of morphological, such as left-right, asymmetry during development is an integral part of the establishment of a body plan. Until recently, the molecular basis of left-right asymmetry was a mystery, but studies indicate that Nodal and the Lefty proteins, transforming growth factor-beta-related molecules, have a central role in generating asymmetric signals. Although the initial mechanism of symmetry breaking remains unknown, developmental biologists are beginning to analyse the pathway that leads to left-right asymmetry establishment and maintenance.
authors.affiliation: Division of Molecular Biology, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Osaka University, and CREST, Japan. hamada@imcb.osaka-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hamada
authors.forename: Chikara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meno
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saijoh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D055458:Left-Right Determination Factors; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009154:Mutation; D055457:Nodal Protein; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D055458:Left-Right Determination Factors; D055457:Nodal Protein; C526008:Nodal protein, mouse; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta