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Updated: Aug 15, 2026

An Optimized Protocol for Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay Using Infrared Fluorescent Dye-labeled Oligonucleotides
Published on: November 29, 2016
Left-right asymmetric expression of lefty2 and nodal is induced by a signaling pathway that includes the
Abstract:
The left-right (L-R) asymmetric expression of lefty2 and nodal is controlled by a left side-specific enhancer (ASE). The transcription factor FAST2, which can mediate signaling by TGF beta and activin, has now been identified as a protein that binds to a conserved sequence in ASE. These FAST2 binding sites were both essential and sufficient for L-R asymmetric gene expression. The Fast2 gene is bilaterally expressed when nodal and lefty2 are expressed on the left side. TGF beta and activin can activate the ASE activity in a FAST2-dependent manner, while Nodal can do so in the presence of an EGF-CFC protein. These results suggest that the asymmetric expression of lefty2 and nodal is induced by a left side-specific TGF beta-related factor, which is most likely Nodal itself.
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