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Left–right asymmetric expression of Pitx is regulated by the asymmetric Nodal signaling through an intronic enhancer in Ciona intestinalis
- Source :
- Development Genes and Evolution. 218:353-360
- Publication Year :
- 2008
- Publisher :
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2008.
-
Abstract
- Left-right asymmetric expression of Pitx as well as of Nodal has been observed in some ascidian species, but a mechanism that regulates the asymmetric expression of Pitx remains largely unclear. We addressed the transcription regulatory mechanism of the left-right asymmetric expression of Pitx gene in the ascidian, Ciona intestinalis. We first identified an intronic enhancer that drives Ci-Pitx left-sided expression in the epidermis and found that a single FoxH1 binding site present in this enhancer is essential for its activity. Also, we have shown that the enhancer requires Nodal signaling to drive the Ci-Pitx expression in the left epidermis. In C. intestinalis, left-sided expression of the Nodal gene has not been reported so far. We have confirmed that Ci-Nodal is expressed in the left epidermis of embryos at the tailbud stage only when they are allowed to develop within the chorion. Then, to test the importance of the FoxH1 binding site, we carried out knock down experiments using morpholino antisense oligonucleotides against Ci-FoxHa, the only FoxH gene that is expressed in the same stage as the left-sided expression of Ci-Pitx is observed. Knocking down of the function of Ci-FoxHa led to the down regulation of the expression of Ci-Pitx in the left epidermis. The present results suggest that the regulatory mechanism controlling the left-right asymmetric expression of the Pitx genes is well conserved between C. intestinalis and vertebrates.
- Subjects :
- endocrine system
Embryo, Nonmammalian
Morpholino
Nodal Protein
Nodal signaling
Biology
Nodal Signaling Ligands
Transcription (biology)
Genetics
Animals
Paired Box Transcription Factors
Tissue Distribution
Ciona intestinalis
Genes, Developmental
Enhancer
Gene
Conserved Sequence
Body Patterning
Regulation of gene expression
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
biology.organism_classification
Molecular biology
Introns
Enhancer Elements, Genetic
Epidermis
NODAL
Signal Transduction
Developmental Biology
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 1432041X and 0949944X
- Volume :
- 218
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Development Genes and Evolution
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....cd7e9804a8751fc6b76eb2563e96050d