title: Identification of a novel left-right asymmetrically expressed gene in the mouse belonging to the BPI/PLUNC superfamily.
abstract: In the process of left-right (L-R) axis formation in the mouse, the node plays a critical role as a structure where the initial breaking of L-R symmetry occurs. Here, we report on the gene LPlunc1, a member of BPI/PLUNC gene superfamily, which is asymmetrically expressed in the developing mouse node. LPlunc1 protein is secreted as a processed form of relative molecular mass 54K-60K and shares sequence features with the other members of BPI/PLUNC superfamily, including the N-terminal and C-terminal homology domains, each of which is considered to form a lipid binding pocket. LPlunc1 is transiently expressed in the crown cells of the node asymmetrically. This expression pattern of Lplunc1 highly overlaps with that of Nodal, a major player during the L-R formation. Interestingly, this asymmetric expression pattern is randomized in the iv mutant and reversed in the inv mutant, indicating that LPlunc1 is downstream of iv and inv. Our results suggest a link between lipid binding/transfer and the axis development.
authors.affiliation: Developmental Genetics Group, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, and CREST, Japan Science and Technology Corporation (JST), Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Kenta
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yashiro
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okazaki
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saijoh
authors.forename: Yoshihide
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hayashizaki
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hamada
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D055457:Nodal Protein; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C119074:Bpifa1 protein, mouse; D006023:Glycoproteins; D055457:Nodal Protein; C526008:Nodal protein, mouse; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta