Cilia-driven asymmetric Hedgehog signalling determines the amphioxus left-right axis by controlling <i>Dand5</i> expression

Abstract

Cilia rotation-driven nodal flow is crucial for the left-right (L-R) break in symmetry in most vertebrates. However, the mechanism by which the flow signal is translated to asymmetric gene expression has been insufficiently addressed. Here, we show that Hedgehog (Hh) signalling is asymmetrically activated (L<R) in the region in which initial asymmetric <i>Dand5</i> expression is detected. Upregulation of Hh signalling on the left side of wild-type embryos induces ectopic <i>Dand5</i> expression on the left side, and the unilateral recovery of Hh signalling in <i>Hh</i> homozygous mutants induces <i>Dand5</i> expression in the Hh signal recovery side. Immunofluorescence analysis results revealed that Hh fusion protein is asymmetrically enriched in the anterior-right paraxial mesoderm at the early neurula stage. Inhibiting embryonic cilia motility using methylcellulose (MC) blocks Hh protein enrichment on the right hand side and randomizes <i>Dand5</i> expression and organ positioning along the L-R axis. These findings present a model showing that cilia movement is crucial for the symmetry breaks in amphioxus through asymmetric Hh protein transport. The resultant asymmetric Hh signalling provides a clue into the induction of asymmetric <i>Dand5</i> expression.This article has an associated 'The people behind the papers' interview.