Analyses of left-right symmetry breaking process in Drosophila

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24370091
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Developmental biology
• Research Institution: Osaka University
• Principal Investigator: MATSUNO Kenji 大阪大学, 理学(系)研究科(研究院), 教授 (60318227)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 左右非対称性 / 左右軸 / 器官形成 / 形態形成 / Ｗｎｔシグナル / ショウジョウバエ / 核移動 / 内臓筋

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Animals often show left-right (LR) asymmetry in their body structures. In some vertebrates, the mechanisms underlying LR symmetry breaking and the subsequent signals responsible for LR asymmetric development are well understood. However, in invertebrates, the molecular bases of these processes are largely unknown. Therefore, we have been studying the genetic pathway of LR asymmetric development in Drosophila. We especially focused on the embryonic gut that is the first organ developing directional LR asymmetry.
In this study, we attempted to understand LR symmetry breaking process in Drosophila. We found that the Wnt signaling is required for LR asymmetric development of the embryonic gut before its LR asymmetric morphogenesis. We also found that the early stage of LR asymmetric development of the embryonic gut depend on the function of genetic pathway involving extra macrochaetae-daughterless cascade.

Free Research Field

発生生物学