TGFβ signaling in establishing left-right asymmetry.
Two TGFβ-related proteins, Nodal and Lefty, are asymmetrically expressed and play central roles in establishing left-right (L-R) asymmetry of our body. Nodal acts as a left-side determinant whereas Lefty restricts Nodal activity to the left side by acting as a feedback inhibitor of Nodal. While the mechanism for symmetry breaking is variable among animals, the pair of Nodal and Lefty has a conserved role in the L-R asymmetry pathway. Function and regulation of Nodal and Lefty have been revealed in the last decades, but in this review we summarize the role of TGFβ-related proteins together with more recent findings. We mainly discuss observations made with mouse embryos, unless indicated otherwise.
Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Japan. Electronic address: shiratori@fbs.osaka-u.ac.jp.
Hidetaka
H
Shiratori
Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Japan.
Hiroshi
H
Hamada
D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D055458:Left-Right Determination Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008957:Models, Genetic; D055457:Nodal Protein / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D055458:Left-Right Determination Factors; D055457:Nodal Protein; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta
Lefty; Left–right asymmetry; Nodal; Node