PUBLICATION

A nodal signaling pathway regulates the laterality of neuroanatomical asymmetries in the zebrafish forebrain

Authors
Concha, M.L., Burdine, R.D., Russell, C., Schier, A.F., and Wilson, S.W.
ID
ZDB-PUB-001213-6
Date
2000
Source
Neuron   28(2): 399-409 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Burdine, Rebecca, Concha, Miguel, Russell, Claire, Schier, Alexander, Wilson, Steve
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Body Patterning/genetics*
  • Diencephalon/anatomy & histology
  • Diencephalon/embryology
  • Fetal Proteins
  • Functional Laterality/genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Habenula/anatomy & histology
  • Habenula/embryology
  • Habenula/metabolism
  • Homeodomain Proteins/biosynthesis
  • Homeodomain Proteins/metabolism
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Nodal Protein
  • Nuclear Proteins*
  • Paired Box Transcription Factors
  • Pineal Gland/anatomy & histology
  • Pineal Gland/embryology
  • Pineal Gland/metabolism
  • Prosencephalon/anatomy & histology*
  • Prosencephalon/embryology*
  • Signal Transduction/genetics*
  • T-Box Domain Proteins/genetics
  • Transcription Factors/biosynthesis
  • Transcription Factors/metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta/biosynthesis
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta/genetics
  • Zebrafish
  • Zebrafish Proteins*
PubMed
11144351 Full text @ Neuron
Abstract
Animals show behavioral asymmetries that are mediated by differences between the left and right sides of the brain. We report that the laterality of asymmetric development of the diencephalic habenular nuclei and the photoreceptive pineal complex is regulated by the Nodal signaling pathway and by midline tissue. Analysis of zebrafish embryos with compromised Nodal signaling reveals an early role for this pathway in the repression of asymmetrically expressed genes in the diencephalon. Later signaling mediated by the EGF-CFC protein One-eyed pinhead and the forkhead transcription factor Schmalspur is required to overcome this repression. When expression of Nodal pathway genes is either absent or symmetrical, neuroanatomical asymmetries are still established but are randomized. This indicates that Nodal signaling is not required for asymmetric development per se but is essential to determine the laterality of the asymmetry.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping