Role of polarized cell divisions in zebrafish neural tube formation.
Development of epithelial cell polarity and morphogenesis of a central lumen are essential prerequisites for the formation of the vertebrate neural tube. In teleost fish embryos this first involves the formation of a solid neural rod structure that then undergoes a process of cavitation to form a lumen. This process is initiated from a neural plate that has a distinct organization compared to other vertebrates, and involves complex cell intercalations and rearrangements. A key element is a mode of polarized cell division that generates daughters with mirror-image apico-basal polarity. These mirror-symmetric divisions have powerful morphogenetic influence because when they occur in ectopic locations they orchestrate the development of ectopic apical and basal specializations and the development of ectopic neural tubes.
Clarke
Jon
J
MRC Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, King's College London, New Hunt's House, 4th Floor, Guy's Hospital Campus, SE1 1UL London, United Kingdom. jon.clarke@kcl.ac.uk
D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology*; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000502:physiology*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D054259:Neural Tube / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology*