N-Cadherin, a Cell Adhesion Molecule Involved in Establishment of Embryonic Left-Right Asymmetry
Abstract
Within the bilaterally symmetric vertebrate body plan, many organs develop asymmetrically. Here, it is demonstrated that a cell adhesion molecule, N-cadherin, is one of the earliest proteins to be asymmetrically expressed in the chicken embryo and that its activity is required during gastrulation for proper establishment of the left-right axis. Blocking N-cadherin function randomizes heart looping and alters the expression of Snail and Pitx2, later components of the molecular cascade that regulate left-right asymmetry. However, the expression of other components of this cascade (Nodal and Lefty) was unchanged after blocking N-cadherin function, suggesting the existence of parallel pathways in the establishment of left-right morphogenesis. Here, the results suggest that N-cadherin-mediated cell adhesion events are required for establishment of left-right asymmetry.
Additional Information
© 2000 American Association for the Advancement of Science. 11 November 1999; accepted 5 April 2000. Supported by U.S. Public Health Service grant HD 15527 (M.B.-F.), American Heart Association 1140-FI1 (M.I.G-C.), and the Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, Caltech (E.V.). We thank C. Baker, A. Groves, C. LaBonne, and B. E. Murray for helpful discussions and comments and R. Velasco for help with sectioning.Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 51691
- DOI
- 10.1126/science.288.5468.1047
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20141113-071030883
- U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS)
- HD-15527
- American Heart Association
- 1140-FI1
- Caltech Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF)
- Created
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2014-11-13Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
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2021-11-10Created from EPrint's last_modified field