Related Experiment Videos
Cilia propel the embryo in the right direction
1Department of Pediatrics/Cardiology, Yale University School of Medicine, Boyer Center for Molecular Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, USA. martina.brueckner@yale.edu
American Journal of Medical Genetics
|July 27, 2001
Summary
Cilia are crucial for establishing left-right body asymmetry. Defects in these structures, like in Kartagener syndrome, can lead to organ positioning abnormalities and situs inversus.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Cilia's role in left-right asymmetry has been long suspected.
- Kartagener syndrome, characterized by defective cilia, shows a 50% incidence of situs inversus.
- Molecular motors kinesin and dynein are implicated in organismal asymmetry.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of cilia in establishing embryonic left-right asymmetry.
- To understand the function of monocilia on the node during gastrulation.
- To identify the molecular mechanisms underlying handed organismal asymmetry.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of mouse mutations affecting ciliary biogenesis and motility.
- Observation of monocilia on the node of gastrulation-stage mouse embryos.
- Studying the fluid dynamics driven by monocilia.
Main Results:
- Defective cilia in Kartagener syndrome correlate with situs inversus.
- Kinesin and dynein are essential for normal handed organismal asymmetry.
- Monocilia on the embryonic node drive leftward fluid movement, initiating asymmetry.
Conclusions:
- Monocilia on the embryonic node are critical for establishing left-right asymmetry.
- Molecular motors within cilia play a key role in this process.
- Understanding these mechanisms provides insight into developmental processes and associated disorders.