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Listen to your dorsal mesentery: Asymmetric gut rotation is driven by the dorsal mesentery and Pitx2
Author(s) -
Kurpios Natasza A.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
molecular reproduction and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1098-2795
pISSN - 1040-452X
DOI - 10.1002/mrd.22129
Subject(s) - pitx2 , biology , anatomy , morphogenesis , mesentery , in situ hybridization , transcription factor , embryogenesis , homeobox , microbiology and biotechnology , embryo , gene expression , gene , genetics
The generation of organ asymmetries is a fundamental aspect of embryonic development. Most organs develop with a characteristic left‐right (L‐R) asymmetry that is critical to normal function and to coordinated organ development. The small intestine is a simple, tubular structure that undergoes a highly conserved, counter‐clockwise rotation that is initiated by expression of the early L‐R symmetry‐breaking transcription factor Pitx2. Gross expression reveals surprising symmetry from the dorsal perspective of a chicken embryo (whole‐mount in situ). Yet closer examination of areas where symmetry will be first broken shows the bias. For example, Pitx2 is expressed on the left side of the dorsal mesentery (background, color‐inverted image of an in situ hybridization; white indicates more intense expression) and is necessary and sufficient to produce the leftward tilt. Although Pitx2 is a master regulator of L‐R organ development, there are currently no targets of Pitx2 known that are relevant to asymmetric morphogenesis.