Apicobasal polarity and neural tube closure

• Published in: Development, growth & differentiation Vol. 55; no. 1; pp. 164 - 172
• Main Authors: Eom, Dae Seok, Amarnath, Smita, Agarwala, Seema
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.01.2013
• Subjects: adherens junctions; Animals; apical constriction; Biomechanical Phenomena; Body Patterning; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins - genetics; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins - metabolism; Cell Cycle; Cell Movement; Cell Nucleus - genetics; Cell Nucleus - metabolism; Cell Polarity; Chickens - genetics; Chickens - growth & development; Chickens - physiology; Epithelium - metabolism; Epithelium - physiology; hinge point; Neural Plate - cytology; Neural Plate - embryology; Neural Plate - physiology; Neural Tube - cytology; Neural Tube - embryology; Neural Tube - physiology; Organogenesis; planar cell polarity; Pregnancy; tight junctions; tubulogenesis; Vitamin B
• ISSN: 0012-1592; 1440-169X
• DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12030

During development, a flat neural plate rolls up and closes to form a neural tube. This process, called neural tube closure, is complex and requires morphogenetic events to occur along multiple axes of the neural plate. Recent studies suggest that cell and tissue polarity play a major role in neural tube morphogenesis. While the planar cell polarity pathway is known to be involved in this process, a role for the apicobasal polarity pathway has only recently begun to be elucidated. These studies show that bone morphogenetic proteins can regulate the apicobasal polarity pathway in the neural plate in a cell cycle dependent manner. This dynamically modulates apical junctions in the neural plate, resulting in cell and tissue shape changes that help bend, shape and close the neural tube.