Cell movements during gastrulation: come in and be induced.
The conversion of an epithelial monolayer into a multilayered structure consisting of the three germ layers, ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm, constitutes a conserved theme in the early development of animals. This is accomplished by morphogenetic movements that occur during gastrulation and serve not only to generate shape but also to ensure that cells receive the right signals at the right time. Recent evidence of the role of molecular interactions facilitated by cell movements in continuously defining the chick 'organizer' during gastrulation challenges the notion that it is a fixed cell population derived from an exclusive cell lineage.
Narasimha
M
M
Institut für Genetik, Universität zu Köln, Weyertal 121, 50931 Köln, Germany. m.narasimha@uni-koeln.de
Leptin
M
M
D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000502:physiology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D002642:Chick Embryo / Q000196:embryology; D004627:Embryonic Induction / Q000502:physiology; D005775:Gastrula / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009672:Notochord / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D020897:Organizers, Embryonic / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology