File:Xenopus FoxA4 model.jpg

For simplicity, they are depicted in a diagram of an embryo at neural plate stage, shown in dorsal view, when foxA4 is only expressed in the DML (pink). FoxA4 modulates A–P development by inhibiting anterior fates (red lines) in the axial mesoderm (prechordal mesoderm, PM) and in the neuroectoderm (NE) and ectoderm, while favouring posterior fates (green arrows) in the neural plate and the dorsal midline (notochord, NO; floor plate, FP). In the trunk, foxA4 prevents the respecification of dorsal midline precursors towards contiguous fates, by inhibiting (red lines) the paraxial mesodermal fate (PAM). Yellow, prechordal mesoderm. Grey, paraxial mesoderm. The dotted light blue line demarcates de neural plate.

Showing the expression of foxA4 in the BCNE centre (pink), which is composed by precursors of the Spemann's organiser and of the whole forebrain and most of the midbrain and hindbrain [37]. An, animal; Veg, vegetal. FoxA4 modulates the initial CNS regionalisation by operating on the BCNE, favouring posterior fates among BCNE derivatives (green arrow), while restricting anterior fates (red line), as revealed by the markers Xanf1 (rostral forebrain), otx2 (caudal forebrain/midbrain), en2 (midbrain/hindbrain boundary). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0110559.g014