The left-right coordinator: the role of Vg1 in organizing left-right axis formation.

Abstract

The asymmetries of internal organs are consistently oriented along the left-right axis in all vertebrates, and perturbations of left-right orientation lead to significant congenital disease. We propose a model in which a "left-right coordinator" interacts with the Spemann organizer to coordinate the evolutionarily conserved three-dimensional asymmetries in the embryo. The Vg1 cell-signaling pathway plays a central role in left-right coordinator function. Antagonists of Vg1 alter left-right development; antagonists of other members of the TGFbeta family do not. Cell-lineage directed expression of Vg1 protein can fully invert the left-right axis (situs inversus), can randomize left-right asymmetries, or can "rescue" a perturbed left-right axis in conjoined twins to normal orientation (situs solitus), indicating that Vg1 can mimic left-right coordinator activity. These are the first molecular manipulations in any vertebrate by which the left-right axis can be reliably controlled.

• Authors: B A Hyatt, H J Yost
• Journal: Cell (Cell) Vol. 93 Issue 1 Pg. 37-46 (Apr 03 1998) ISSN: 0092-8674 [Print] United States
• PMID: 9546390 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Carrier Proteins
• Follistatin
• GDF1 protein, Xenopus
• Glycoproteins
• Proteins
• Transforming Growth Factor beta
• Xenopus Proteins
• Activins
• noggin protein
• Inhibins

Topics

• Activins
• Animals
• Carrier Proteins
• Embryo, Nonmammalian (physiology)
• Embryonic Induction
• Follistatin
• Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
• Glycoproteins (antagonists & inhibitors, biosynthesis)
• Heart (embryology)
• Inhibins (biosynthesis)
• Protein Biosynthesis
• Proteins
• Signal Transduction
• Transforming Growth Factor beta (biosynthesis)
• Xenopus (embryology)
• Xenopus Proteins