The mouse homeobox gene Noto regulates node morphogenesis, notochordal ciliogenesis, and left right patterning.

ABSTRACT: The mouse homeobox gene Noto represents the homologue of zebrafish floating head (flh) and is expressed in the organizer node and in the nascent notochord. Previous analyses suggested that Noto is required exclusively for the formation of the caudal part of the notochord. Here, we show that Noto is also essential for node morphogenesis, controlling ciliogenesis in the posterior notochord, and the establishment of laterality, whereas organizer functions in anterior-posterior patterning are apparently not compromised. In mutant embryos, left-right asymmetry of internal organs and expression of laterality markers was randomized. Mutant posterior notochord regions were variable in size and shape, cilia were shortened with highly irregular axonemal microtubuli, and basal bodies were, in part, l

SUBMITTER: Beckers A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2000419 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature