title: Diversity and convergence in the mechanisms establishing L/R asymmetry in metazoa.
abstract: Differentiating left and right hand sides during embryogenesis represents a major event in body patterning. Left-Right (L/R) asymmetry in bilateria is essential for handed positioning, morphogenesis and ultimately the function of organs (including the brain), with defective L/R asymmetry leading to severe pathologies in human. How and when symmetry is initially broken during embryogenesis remains debated and is a major focus in the field. Work done over the past 20 years, in both vertebrate and invertebrate models, has revealed a number of distinct pathways and mechanisms important for establishing L/R asymmetry and for spreading it to tissues and organs. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge and discuss the diversity of L/R patterning from cells to organs during evolution.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biologie Valrose University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France CNRS Institut de Biologie Valrose UMR 7277, Nice, France INSERM Institut de Biologie Valrose U1091, Nice, France.
authors.forename: Jean-Baptiste
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Coutelis
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biologie Valrose University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France CNRS Institut de Biologie Valrose UMR 7277, Nice, France INSERM Institut de Biologie Valrose U1091, Nice, France.
authors.forename: Nicanor
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: González-Morales
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biologie Valrose University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France CNRS Institut de Biologie Valrose UMR 7277, Nice, France INSERM Institut de Biologie Valrose U1091, Nice, France.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Géminard
authors.affiliation: Institut de Biologie Valrose University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, Nice, France CNRS Institut de Biologie Valrose UMR 7277, Nice, France INSERM Institut de Biologie Valrose U1091, Nice, France noselli@unice.fr.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noselli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D019521:Body Patterning; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000235:genetics; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000235:genetics
keywords: L/R asymmetry; directional morphogenesis; evolution, invertebrates; symmetry breaking; vertebrates