title: The Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway establishes neuroanatomical asymmetries and their laterality.
abstract: The vertebrate brain is an immensely complex structure, which exhibits numerous morphological and functional asymmetries. The best described brain asymmetries are found in the diencephalic epithalamus, where the habenulae and the dorso-laterally adjacent pineal complex are lateralized in many species. Research in the past decade has shed light on the establishment of the laterality of these structures as well as their asymmetry per se. In particular work in zebrafish (Danio rerio) has substantially contributed to our understanding, which genetic pathways are involved in these processes. The Wnt/beta-catenin pathway has turned out to play a pivotal role in the regulation of brain laterality and asymmetry and acts reiteratively during embryonic development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell- and Molecular Biology, Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hüsken
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carl
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000235:genetics*; D054262:Gastrulation; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D019262:Habenula / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway / Q000235:genetics*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051153:Wnt Proteins; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin; C495269:ctnnb1 protein, zebrafish