Cell polarity controls orientated cell division, cell shape changes, as well as cell movement. In order to break the initial “egg shape” of the embryo, cells need to polarize in a precise and coordinated manner. The morphogenetic movements of gastrulation rearrange the three germ layers precursors, positioning mesodermal cells between outer ectodermal and inner endodermal cells to shape the head-to-tail body axis. Gastrulation is a crucial time in animal development during which major cell and tissue movements shape the basic body plan 1, 2. Finally, we evaluate a functional interaction between Fry and NDR1 kinase, providing evidence of an evolutionarily conserved complex required for morphogenesis. Loss of Fry function drastically affects the movement and morphological polarization of cells during gastrulation and disrupts dorsal mesoderm convergent extension, responsible for head-to-tail elongation. Using morpholino knock-down, we demonstrate a distinct role for Fry in blastopore closure and dorsal axis elongation. Here, we show that in Xenopus, Fry plays a role in morphogenetic processes during gastrulation, in addition to its previously described function in the regulation of dorsal mesoderm gene expression. However, little is known about its function in vertebrate development. The furry ( fry) gene encodes an evolutionarily conserved protein with a wide variety of cellular functions, including cell polarization and morphogenesis in invertebrates. Cell polarization is essential during gastrulation, driving asymmetric cell division, cell movements, and cell shape changes. Gastrulation is a key event in animal embryogenesis during which germ layer precursors are rearranged and the embryonic axes are established.

Blastopore formation