Jingya Li , Qibin Xu

Animal Science Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
International Journal of Marine Science, 2024, Vol. 14, No. 4   doi: 10.5376/ijms.2024.14.0029
Received: 06 Jun., 2024    Accepted: 20 Jul., 2024    Published: 30 Jul., 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Li J.Y., and Xu Q.B., 2024,Molecular mechanisms of axis development: insights from cilia biology, International Journal of Marine Science, 14(4): 256-265 (doi: 10.5376/ijms.2024.14.0029)

Axis development is a critical biological process in the development of multicellular organisms, with cilia playing an important role. Cilia are small hair-like structures on the cell surface that are involved in various cellular activities, including signal transduction, cell movement, and sensing environmental signals. Studies have shown that cilia play a crucial regulatory role in the formation of the left-right and anterior-posterior axes by modulating morphogen gradients and signaling pathways such as Nodal, Wnt, and Hedgehog, thereby influencing gene expression and cell fate determination. This research systematically reviews the molecular mechanisms of cilia in axis development, exploring their specific roles in left-right asymmetry and anterior-posterior patterning, and analyzing related key genes and proteins. Additionally, the study introduces experimental models and techniques used in cilia research, discusses the impact of cilia dysfunction (ciliopathies) on developmental defects and their genetic basis. By summarizing current research progress and existing technical challenges, this research aims to provide guidance for future studies, promoting further breakthroughs in developmental biology and clinical treatment.

Axis development; Cilia; Signaling pathways; Left-right asymmetry; Ciliopathies