Axes patterning and neurogenesis

​

For a long time now, embryologists have been fascinated about body axes formation in metazoas. It is remarkably that all animals, form sponges to vertebrates, depend upon Wnt pathway assymetric regulation to shape its primary body axis. In vertebrates, the primary body axis, or anterior-posterior, is established as the notochord and the nerual plate elongate. During the past years we have been investigating the role played by Wnt/B-catenin pathway and its inhibitors upon anterior neural plate differentiation into head structures. For instance, we have characterized the expression pattern and function of Notum and Tiki within Xenopus laevis early embryogenesis. A new project in the lab, which has been receiving a lot of attention, aims to explore the importance of asymetric wnt pahway regulation for neural plate and notochord morphogenesis.  

​

​