[Neural determination in Xenopus laevis embryos: control of early neural gene expression by calcium]

In amphibian embryos the central nervous system derives from the dorsal region of the ectoderm. Molecular studies led to the formulation of the "neural default model" in which neural development is under the inhibitory control of members of the BMP family. These growth factors also act as epidermis inducers. The neural fate is revealed by factors secreted by the Spemann Organizer such as noggin, chordin, follistatin, Xnr3 and cerberus which act by blocking BMP signalling. We propose a new model for neural cell determination in which a signalling pathway controlled by an increase in intracellular calcium suppresses the epidermis fate and activates the neural fate instead. This increase in calcium is due to an influx through calcium channels of the L-type, expressed in ectodermal cells during gastrulation. The possible involvement of a calcium-dependent phosphatase (calcineurin) to inhibit the epidermis fate and a calcium-calmodulin kinase (CaMkinase II) which activates the neural fate is discussed.