Roles of the Foxj1 and Inv genes in the left-right determination of internal organs in mice

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2006 Jan 20;339(3):932-8. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.11.097. Epub 2005 Nov 28.

Abstract

In Foxj1 knockout mice, half show situs solitus while the other half show situs inversus, which means a random determination of the left-right axis. In contrast, the inv mutant mice show a mirror-image configuration of the internal organs, which means a reversal of the left-right axis. Although these two mutant mice have primary cilia on the nodal cells, their phenotypes are different in laterality determination. We thus made Foxj1/inv double mutant mice and analyzed their phenotype. We found the phenotypes of Foxj1/inv double mutant mice to be more similar to those of the Foxj1 mutant mice than those of the inv mutant mice. We also found right pulmonary isomerism to be a major phenotype of the Foxj1 mutant mice and the Foxj1/inv double mutant mice, which is likely due to the absence of the Pitx2 expression at both lateral plate mesoderms. These results indicate that a random signal of laterality (Foxj1) is dominant over the reversal signal of laterality (Inv).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Body Patterning / genetics*
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Functional Laterality / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Situs Inversus / embryology
  • Situs Inversus / genetics*
  • Situs Inversus / metabolism*
  • Situs Inversus / pathology
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*

Substances

  • FOXJ1 protein, mouse
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Invs protein, mouse
  • Transcription Factors