Figure 6.

Proper Pancreas Development Requires the Expression of Nog2 in the Notochord

(A) Diagram of the nog2 notochord enhancer driving expression of nog2. Nog2 diffusion from the notochord, located in the midline of the embryo, counteracts the signaling of Bmp2b from the lateral plate mesoderm, allowing the proper placement and proper size of the endocrine pancreas.

(B) When the activity of the nog2 notochord enhancer is disrupted, nog2 expression in the notochord is reduced. In this case, Bmp2b signaling is expanded, impairing β cell development and reducing pancreas size.