Left-right body axis formation by embryonic FGF/anti-FGF signaling

• Applicant: Professor Christof Niehrs, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Developmental Biology ; Cell Biology
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 565471909

The left-right (LR) asymmetry of organs such as the heart is a central feature of many animals and a significant topic in biology and medicine. The formation of the LR body axis in most vertebrates during embryogenesis is controlled by a cilia-driven fluid flow in the left-right organizer (LRO). We recently discovered that Rspo2 plays a key role in this process. Our results indicate that Rspo2 inhibits FGF signaling, and they support a model in which an anti-FGF/FGF signaling axis regulates LR specification. This mechanism will now be further explored using the mouse and Xenopus model systems to confirm the validity of the FGF/anti-FGF signaling axis in LR patterning also in mouse and to further elucidate the involved signaling cascades in Xenopus. These investigations may provide important insights for developmental biology, medicine, and evolution.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants