Making a difference together: reciprocal interactions in C. elegans and zebrafish asymmetric neural development

• Published in: Development (Cambridge) Vol. 137; no. 5; pp. 681 - 691
• Main Authors: Taylor, Robert W., Hsieh, Yi-Wen, Gamse, Joshua T., Chuang, Chiou-Fen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England The Company of Biologists Limited 01.03.2010; Company of Biologists
• Subjects: Animals; Body Patterning - genetics; Body Patterning - physiology; Brain - embryology; Caenorhabditis elegans - embryology; Embryo, Nonmammalian; Functional Laterality - genetics; Functional Laterality - physiology; Gap Junctions - genetics; Gap Junctions - physiology; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Models, Biological; Review; Zebrafish - embryology
• ISSN: 0950-1991; 1477-9129; 1477-9129
• DOI: 10.1242/dev.038695

Brain asymmetries are thought to increase neural processing capacity and to prevent interhemispheric conflict. In order to develop asymmetrically, neurons must be specified along the left-right axis, assigned left-side versus right-side identities and differentiate appropriately. In C. elegans and zebrafish, the cellular and molecular mechanisms that lead to neural asymmetries have recently come to light. Here, we consider recent insights into the mechanisms involved in asymmetrical neural development in these two species. Although the molecular details are divergent, both organisms use iterative cell-cell communication to establish left-right neuronal identity.