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. 2017 Aug;9(8):a022244. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a022244

Figure 2.

Figure 2.

Role of the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) family in forming the neural tube and patterning the spinal cord. (A) Antagonism from the notochord inhibits bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) signaling to specify the floor plate (FP) (green), whereas the neural plate folds to form the neural tube. The FP and roof plate (RP) (red) form on the ventral and dorsal midline of the neural tube, respectively. Wnt and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) help to regulate BMP signaling to aid in neurulation, and BMP signaling through Lmx1a and Msx forms the RP. (B) BMPs, GDF-5, GDF-6, GDF-7, and Wnts are secreted from the RP to specify neural crest and dorsal interneuron (dI) subtype. Nodal and BMP antagonists are secreted from notochord to specify ventral neuron (vP) subtype. Nodal instructs ventral identity either in parallel or through sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling.