Competence for neural induction: HGF/SF, HGF1/MSP and the c-Met receptor

During the early stages of development of the vertebrate embryo, the nervous system is induced by a special region, Hensen's node (or 'organizer'), situated at the tip of the primitive streak during gastrulation. Neural induction is finely regulated both by the timing of inducing signals emitted by the organizer and by temporal and spatial changes in the responsiveness of the ectoderm ('competence'). Here we review the evidence that the glycoprotein L5-220 is a marker for competent cells, that it is involved directly in the response to neural inducing signals, and that its expression, as well as competence itself, are maintained and enhanced by HGF/SF. HGF/SF is expressed in the node itself, suggesting that the organizer maintains the responsiveness of neighbouring regions to inducing signals. We also speculate that HGF1/MSP may play a role in setting up the initial competent region at earlier stages of development.