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Neural induction: toward a unifying mechanism

Nature Neuroscience volume 4, pages 1161–1168 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

Neural induction constitutes the initial step in the generation of the vertebrate nervous system. In attempting to understand the principles that underlie this process, two key issues need to be resolved. When is neural induction initiated, and what is the cellular source and molecular nature of the neural inducing signal(s)? Currently, these aspects of neural induction seem to be very different in amphibian and amniote embryos. Here we highlight the similarities and the differences, and we propose a possible unifying mechanism.

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Figure 1: Neural induction in Xenopus.
Figure 2: Neural induction in chick.
Figure 3: Proposed signaling pathway for neural induction in the chick embryo.

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Acknowledgements

T.E. is supported by the Swedish Medical Research Council and by the Foundation for Strategic Research. We thank members of the Edlund lab for helpful discussions and we are grateful to T.M. Jessell for comments, suggestions and ideas.

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  1. Department of Molecular Biology, Umeå University, Umeå, S-901 87, Sweden

    Sara I. Wilson & Thomas Edlund

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Correspondence to Thomas Edlund.

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Wilson, S., Edlund, T. Neural induction: toward a unifying mechanism. Nat Neurosci 4 (Suppl 11), 1161–1168 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn747

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