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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Jan 1.
Published in final edited form as: Dev Growth Differ. 2012 Dec 20;55(1):164–172. doi: 10.1111/dgd.12030

Figure 3. BMP signaling and hinge point formation.

Figure 3

(A, A′) Wild-type neural plate showing the random distribution of nuclei in lateral neural plate and basally located nuclei at the MHP (arrowhead). The blue box along the apical surface of A is magnified in A′ and demonstrates that the basally located nuclei shown at the MHP in A display reduced apical surfaces at the MHP. Graded arrows depict the pSMAD 1,5,8 gradients along the medial-lateral and the apicobasal axes. (B, B′) BMP blockade exaggerates the endogenous MHP (black arrowhead) and can induce ectopic hinge points in lateral neural plate (red arrowhead, B). This is accompanied by increased apical constriction and basal nuclear migration (B, B′). (C, C′f) Increased BMP signaling results in a flattened neural plate. The neural plates shown in B and C do not close correctly. Note that the DLHPs are not shown this figure, but are affected similarly by BMP signaling. Based on data from Eom et al., 2011; 2012.

Abbreviations: AJ: adherens junctions; AO: area opaca; DLHP: dorsolateral hinge point; HN: Hensen’s node; LGL: lethal giant larva; MHP: median hinge point; NC: notochord; NF: neural fold; NP: neural plate; NT: neural tube; NTC: neural tube closure; PS: primitive streak; SE: surface ectoderm; TJ: tight junctions.