Bmp and Nodal Independently Regulate lefty1 Expression to Maintain Unilateral Nodal Activity during Left-Right Axis Specification in Zebrafish
2011

Bmp and Nodal Regulate lefty1 Expression in Zebrafish

Sample size: 464 publication 10 minutes Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Kelly A. Smith, Emily Noël, Ingrid Thurlings, Holger Rehmann, Sonja Chocron, Jeroen Bakkers, Mary C. Mullins

Primary Institution: Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences and University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Hypothesis

How do Bmp and Nodal signaling pathways interact to regulate lefty1 expression during left-right axis specification in zebrafish?

Conclusion

Bmp and Nodal signaling pathways independently regulate lefty1 expression, which is crucial for maintaining unilateral Nodal activity during left-right axis specification.

Supporting Evidence

  • Bmp signaling is required for unilateral Nodal expression in the left lateral plate mesoderm.
  • Reduction in Bmpr1a activity leads to bilateral expression of spaw and reduced lefty1 expression.
  • Lefty1 expression in the midline is necessary to prevent Nodal from activating in the right lateral plate mesoderm.

Takeaway

This study shows that two signals in zebrafish, Bmp and Nodal, help control how organs are arranged on the left and right sides of the body by managing a gene called lefty1.

Methodology

The study used genetic screening and various zebrafish models to analyze the effects of Bmp and Nodal signaling on lefty1 expression and left-right axis specification.

Limitations

The study primarily focuses on zebrafish, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other vertebrates.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pgen.1002289

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