title: Gap junctions provide new links in left-right patterning.
abstract: Gap junctions are increasingly recognized as key regulators of embryonic development, nervous system function, and neoplasia. Chuang et al. (2007) now show that developing neural circuits use communication through gap junctions to establish left-right asymmetry in the central nervous system of the worm Caenorhabditis elegans, revealing that nematodes share a mechanism for left-right asymmetry in common with vertebrates.
authors.affiliation: The Forsyth Center for Regenerative and Developmental Biology, The Forsyth Institute, 140 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: Néstor J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Oviedo
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000502:physiology*; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology; D009420:Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D009833:Olfactory Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology