title: Neural tube closure: cellular, molecular and biomechanical mechanisms.
abstract: Neural tube closure has been studied for many decades, across a range of vertebrates, as a paradigm of embryonic morphogenesis. Neurulation is of particular interest in view of the severe congenital malformations - 'neural tube defects' - that result when closure fails. The process of neural tube closure is complex and involves cellular events such as convergent extension, apical constriction and interkinetic nuclear migration, as well as precise molecular control via the non-canonical Wnt/planar cell polarity pathway, Shh/BMP signalling, and the transcription factors Grhl2/3, Pax3, Cdx2 and Zic2. More recently, biomechanical inputs into neural tube morphogenesis have also been identified. Here, we review these cellular, molecular and biomechanical mechanisms involved in neural tube closure, based on studies of various vertebrate species, focusing on the most recent advances in the field.
authors.affiliation: Newlife Birth Defects Research Centre, Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK.
authors.forename: Evanthia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nikolopoulou
authors.affiliation: Newlife Birth Defects Research Centre, Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK.
authors.forename: Gabriel L
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2515-1342
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Galea
authors.affiliation: Newlife Birth Defects Research Centre, Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8683-4991
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rolo
authors.affiliation: Newlife Birth Defects Research Centre, Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK.
authors.forename: Nicholas D E
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4170-5248
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Greene
authors.affiliation: Newlife Birth Defects Research Centre, Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK a.copp@ucl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2544-9117
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Copp
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning; D002465:Cell Movement; D016764:Cell Polarity; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007797:Laminin / Q000378:metabolism; D009024:Morphogenesis; D054259:Neural Tube / Q000196:embryology*; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000196:embryology*; D054261:Neurulation; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D012307:Risk Factors; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005353:Fibronectins; D007797:Laminin; D011509:Proteoglycans; D014157:Transcription Factors
keywords: Cell protrusions; Convergent extension; Cytoskeleton; Extracellular matrix; Morphogenesis; Neural tube; Neural tube defects; Neurulation; Planar cell polarity; Proteases; Spina bifida