Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2025
08:11
Analysis of Gene Function and Visualization of Cilia-Generated Fluid Flow in Kupffer's Vesicle
Published on: March 31, 2013
14.8K
Left-Right Asymmetry in Invertebrates: From Molecules to Organisms
Reiko Kuroda1,2
1International Institute for Sustainability with Knotted Chiral Meta Matter (SKCM), World Premier International Research Center Initiative (WPI), Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan.
Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology
|July 10, 2024
Summary
Most animals have internal body asymmetry, known as left-right (LR) asymmetry, determined by genetics during development. This review explores LR asymmetry formation in invertebrates like Drosophila, focusing on key genes and information transmission from molecules to tissues.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Animals exhibit external symmetry but internal left-right (LR) asymmetry in organ positioning and function.
- LR asymmetry is genetically controlled through complex molecular interactions during embryonic development.
- While common mechanisms exist across species, unique pathways for LR asymmetry are observed in invertebrates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the formation of LR asymmetry in invertebrates, focusing on Drosophila, ascidians, and mollusks.
- To elucidate the role of key genes in establishing LR asymmetry.
- To understand the transmission of chirality information across molecular, cellular, and tissue levels.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of genetic and developmental studies on LR asymmetry in invertebrates.
- Comparative analysis of gene functions and molecular pathways.
- Examination of mechanisms for converting molecular chirality information to cellular and tissue-level asymmetry.
Main Results:
- Identified key genes involved in LR asymmetry in Drosophila, ascidians, and mollusks.
- Highlighted conserved and divergent mechanisms of LR asymmetry across invertebrate taxa.
- Described pathways for the propagation of asymmetry from molecular signals to organogenesis.
Conclusions:
- Invertebrates utilize specific genetic pathways to establish LR asymmetry.
- Understanding these pathways provides insights into developmental processes and evolutionary adaptations.
- Further research on gene function and information transfer is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of LR asymmetry.
Related Concept Videos
01:35Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer
7.2K
Biological membranes show uneven distribution of different types of lipids in the inner and outer layers, resulting in transverse asymmetric membranes. The treatment of the erythrocyte membrane with the enzyme phospholipase confirmed the asymmetric nature of the lipid bilayer. The enzyme hydrolyzes lipids into fatty acids and hydrophilic groups. The phospholipase acts only on the outer layer of the membrane, while the inner layer remains intact. The phospholipase treatment resulted in 80%...
7.2K
01:28Lateralization
319
Brain lateralization refers to the division of mental processes and functions between the two hemispheres of the brain, a phenomenon that optimizes neural efficiency and underpins complex abilities in humans. This specialization allows each hemisphere to perform tasks where it has a comparative advantage, facilitating more refined cognitive capabilities across different domains.
319
02:30Chirality in Nature
13.3K
Chirality is the most intriguing yet essential facet of nature, governing life’s biochemical processes and precision. It can be observed from a snail shell pattern in a macroscopic world to an amino acid, the minutest building block of life. Most of the snails around the world have right-coiled shells because of the intrinsic chirality in their genes. All the amino acids present in the human body exist in an enantiomerically pure state, except for glycine - the sole achiral amino acid.
13.3K
02:45The Ratio of X Chromosome to Autosomes
8.5K
In most organisms, sex is determined by the ratio of X and Y chromosomes. However, in some organisms, such as Drosophila and C.elegans, sex is determined by the ratio of the number of X chromosomes to the number of sets of autosomes. The Y chromosome in Drosophila is active but does not determine sex. It contains genes responsible for the production of sperms in adult flies.
Normal male Drosophila has a ratio of one X chromosome to two sets of autosomes. In contrast, normal female...
Normal male Drosophila has a ratio of one X chromosome to two sets of autosomes. In contrast, normal female...
8.5K
01:21Cell Polarization by Rho Proteins
2.7K
Cell polarity is the asymmetric distribution of cellular and membrane components, making one side of the cell different from the other. This polarity is essential to many processes such as embryogenesis, axon migration, glucose transport across epithelial cells, and directional cell migration. A migrating cell responds to intracellular or extracellular signals via molecular cascades that reorganize the actin cytoskeleton to establish this polarity. In these cells, the Rho family proteins Cdc42,...
2.7K
01:05Cerebral Hemispheres
319
The human brain, a complex organ, is functionally divided into two cerebral hemispheres—left and right. These hemispheres are interconnected by a structure of paramount importance, the corpus callosum. This substantial bundle of neural fibers is not just a bridge between the hemispheres but a crucial element for the brain's comprehensive functioning. It enables efficient communication between the two hemispheres, allowing each side of the brain to control and receive sensory and motor...
319