Figure 1. Properties of Noggin4.

(a) Alignment of Xenopus laevis Noggins. Positions essential for Noggin1 binding to BMP¹ are indicated by red arrows. HSPG binding motifs and cleavage sites are indicated by green and red dashed lines, respectively. (b) Whole-mount in situ hybridization of a midneurula embryo with dig-probe to Noggin4 mRNA. Dorsal view at the top, the right-frontal view at the bottom. (c) Effects of Noggin4 mRNA (80%, n = 120) and MO1 (85%, n = 130) injections on the development of head structures. Cg-cement gland. (d–s) In situ hybridization with dig-probes to FoxG1, Rx, Otx2 and Pax6 mRNA of midneurula embryos injected with GFP mRNA (control) (0%, n = 40; 0%, n = 50; 0%, n = 40; 0%, n = 30, abnormal phenotypes respectively), Noggin4 mRNA (85%, n = 30; 61%, n = 35; 81%, n = 40; 65%, n = 40 abnormal phenotypes respectively), Noggin4 MO1 (90%, n = 50; 86%, n = 40; 60%, n = 40; 60%, n = 40, abnormal phenotypes respectively) and misNoggin4 MO1 (control) (0%, n = 30; 0%, n = 30; 0%, n = 40; 0%, n = 30, abnormal phenotypes respectively). Red dashed line surrounds the presumptive rostral forebrain territory. Anterior view, dorsal to the top.