... that the most-anterior axial mesendodermal cells, the precursors of the polster, move in a cohesive manner directed by the activity of s nail1a- and snail1b -expressing cells surrounding these precursors. The cell-autonomous function of Snail1 proteins regulates cell motility and influences the behaviour...

... for Nodal; by contrast, cell culture data have suggested that the mammalian EGF-CFC protein Cripto can act as a secreted signaling factor. Here we show that Cripto acts non-cell-autonomously during axial mesendoderm formation in the mouse embryo and may possess intercellular signaling activity in vivo...

... the head process emerges beneath previously induced neural plate, which we show has already acquired some rostrocaudal character. Our findings therefore indicate that discrete regions of axial mesendoderm at headfold stages are not normally responsible for the establishment of rostrocaudal pattern...