Polycomb group protein Ezh1 represses Nodal and maintains the left-right axis.
The left-right (LR) axis is essential for the proper function of internal organs. In mammals and fish, left-sided Nodal expression governs LR patterning. Here, we show that the Polycomb group protein Ezh1, which is highly conserved from fish to human, participates in LR patterning. Knockdown of olezh1, a medaka homologue of Ezh1, led to LR reversal of internal organs. It was shown that OLEZH1 acts in silencing the expression of Spaw (a medaka homolog of Nodal) via a previously unknown pathway. Furthermore, coimmunoprecipitation showed physical interaction of Ezh1 with FoxH1, a Nodal regulator. This represents a novel mechanism for LR patterning and implies that Ezh1 has developmental importance.
Department of Biology, Waseda University, 2-2 Wakamatsu-cho, Shinjuku, Tokyo 162-8480, Japan. arai.daisuke@ruri.waseda.jp
Daisuke
D
Arai
Hiroaki
H
Katsura
Norihisa
N
Shindo
Mayuko
M
Matsumoto
Toru
T
Higashinakagawa
D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D055457:Nodal Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D009990:Oryzias / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
D029941:Fish Proteins; D055457:Nodal Protein; D063146:Polycomb-Group Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins