title: Generating asymmetries in the early vertebrate embryo: the role of the Cerberus-like family.
abstract: One fundamental aspect of vertebrate embryonic development is the formation of the body plan. For this process, asymmetries have to be generated during early stages of development along the three main body axes: Anterior-Posterior, Dorso-Ventral and Left-Right. We have been studying the role of a novel class of molecules, the Cerberus/Dan gene family. These are dedicated secreted antagonists of three major signaling pathways: Nodal, BMP and Wnt. Our studies contribute to the current view that the fine tuning of signaling is controlled by a set of inhibitory molecules rather than by activators. In this context, the Cerberus-like molecules emerge as key players in the regulation and generation of asymmetries in the early vertebrate embryo.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal. jbelo@ualg.pt
authors.forename: José António
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Belo
authors.forename: Ana C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Ana-Cristina
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.forename: Mário
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Filipe
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bento
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vitorino
authors.forename: Ana-Marisa
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Salgueiro
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Texeira
authors.forename: Ana T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Tavares
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marques
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002645:Chickens; D016207:Cytokines; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D055457:Nodal Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D029867:Xenopus Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C110586:Cer1 protein, mouse; D016207:Cytokines; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D055457:Nodal Protein; D011506:Proteins; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; C100866:cer1 protein, Xenopus