Pitx2 determines left–right asymmetry of internal organs in vertebrates

Aimee K. Ryan, Bruce Blumberg, Concepción Rodriguez-Esteban, Sayuri Yonei-Tamura, Koji Tamura, Tohru Tsukui, Jennifer de la Peña, Walid Sabbagh, Jason Greenwald, Senyon Choe, Dominic P. Norris, Elizabeth J. Robertson, Ronald M. Evans, Michael G. Rosenfeld and Juan Carlos Izpisúa Belmonte ()
Additional contact information
Aimee K. Ryan: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California
Bruce Blumberg: The Salk Institute
Concepción Rodriguez-Esteban: The Salk Institute
Sayuri Yonei-Tamura: The Salk Institute
Koji Tamura: The Salk Institute
Tohru Tsukui: The Salk Institute
Jennifer de la Peña: The Salk Institute
Walid Sabbagh: The Salk Institute
Jason Greenwald: The Salk Institute
Senyon Choe: The Salk Institute
Dominic P. Norris: Harvard University
Elizabeth J. Robertson: Harvard University
Ronald M. Evans: Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Michael G. Rosenfeld: Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California
Juan Carlos Izpisúa Belmonte: The Salk Institute

Nature, 1998, vol. 394, issue 6693, 545-551

Abstract: Abstract The handedness of visceral organs is conserved among vertebrates and is regulated by asymmetric signals relayed by molecules such as Shh, Nodal and activin. The gene Pitx2 is expressed in the left lateral plate mesoderm and, subsequently, in the left heart and gut of mouse, chick and Xenopus embryos. Misexpression of Shh and Nodal induces Pitx2 expression, whereas inhibition of activin signalling blocks it. Misexpression of Pitx2 alters the relative position of organs and the direction of body rotation in chick and Xenopus embryos. Changes in Pitx2 expression are evident in mouse mutants with laterality defects. Thus, Pitx2 seems to serve as a critical downstream transcription target that mediates left–right asymmetry in vertebrates.

Date: 1998
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DOI: 10.1038/29004

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