Molecular mechanisms of dorsoventral and left-right pattern formation in the zebrafish, Danio rerio

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Midline mesodern is an important organising centre of vertebrate development. Differentiation of the ventral neural tube but also establishment of left-right asymmetry of the heart and viscera are dependent on signals from the midline mesoderm. Key signalling molecule in these processes is the secreted growth factor Nodal. Nodal which forms a subgroup of the TGFß superfamily of signalling molecules controls, however, a variety of distinct differentiation processes during development indicating context dependence of its patterning activities. This provokes the existence of additional factors which determine a specific target cell response. The aim of this proposal is to carry out a genomewide search to characterise and compare the gene expression programmes in two distinct Nodal target cell populations, the left lateral plate mesodern and the floor plate/notochord. This work will elucidate the differences and similarities in gene responses to Nodal signals. Furthermore it will identify downstream genes which characterise the distinct differentiation states of the two cell populations and may identify signals acting in addition to Nodal related factors on target cells. This work will make a contribution to the analysis of gene networks in the approaching post sequencing era.