Convergent extension: the molecular control of polarized cell movement during embryonic development.
During development, vertebrate embryos undergo dramatic changes in shape. The lengthening and narrowing of a field of cells, termed convergent extension, contributes to a variety of morphogenetic processes. Focusing on frogs and fish, we review the different cellular mechanisms and the well-conserved signaling pathways that underlie this process.
Wallingford
John B
JB
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, 401 Barker Hall, University of California, Berkeley, 94720, USA. hueco@uclink4.berkeley.edu
Fraser
Scott E
SE
Harland
Richard M
RM
D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura; D002450:Cell Communication; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000502:physiology*; D048429:Cell Size; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000502:physiology*; D005399:Fishes; D008954:Models, Biological; D009024:Morphogenesis; D014981:Xenopus