Zebrafish Lft1 Antibody / Lefty | Left-right determination factor

In zebrafish embryos, Lft1 is expressed asymmetrically, typically on the left side of the lateral plate mesoderm and near the embryonic midline. Its main role is to inhibit nodal signals from spreading to the right side of the embryo, thereby ensuring that organs such as the heart, liver, and pancreas develop in their correct anatomical positions. Lft1 acts as a feedback inhibitor, maintaining a precise boundary of nodal activity and contributing to the robustness of left right patterning. Disruption of Lft1 expression or function can result in abnormal or randomized organ laterality, making it a critical component of the left right determination network. Zebrafish Lft1 is also involved in regulating mesoderm formation and is influenced by other early patterning cues such as those from the organizer region. Due to its conserved role across vertebrates, zebrafish Lft1 is widely used in studies of embryonic asymmetry, developmental signaling, congenital heart defects, and the genetic regulation of organ positioning.