title: Left-right asymmetry in zebrafish.
abstract: In vertebrates, internal organs are positioned asymmetrically across the left-right (LR) axis, placing them in a defined area within the body. This LR asymmetric placement is a conserved feature of the vertebrate body plan. Events determining LR asymmetry occur during embryonic development, and are regulated by the coordinated action of genetic mechanisms that are evolutionarily conserved among vertebrates. Recent studies using zebrafish have provided new insights into how the Kupffer's vesicle organizer region is generated, and how it relays LR asymmetry information to the lateral plate mesoderm. In this review, we summarize recent advances in zebrafish and describe our current understanding of the mechanisms underlying these processes.
authors.affiliation: Gene Regulation Research, Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Nara, 630-0101, Japan. matsui@bs.naist.jp
authors.forename: Takaaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsui
authors.forename: Yasumasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bessho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D008648:Mesoderm; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology*; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins