Cilia are at the heart of vertebrate left-right asymmetry.
Handed asymmetry of the shape and position of the internal organs is found in all vertebrates, and is essential for normal cardiac development. Recent genetic and embryological experiments in mouse embryos have demonstrated that left-right asymmetry is established by directional flow of extraembryonic fluid surrounding the node, which is driven by motile monocilia.
McGrath
James
J
Department of Comparative Medicine and Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA.
Brueckner
Martina
M
D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000502:physiology*; D002923:Cilia / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006321:Heart / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology*; D007619:Kartagener Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology; D008954:Models, Biological; D055457:Nodal Protein; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000502:physiology; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000196:embryology*
D055457:Nodal Protein; C526008:Nodal protein, mouse; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta