Wnt genes and vertebrate development.

A variety of experimental approaches have underscored the critical role played by secreted polypeptide factors, such as those encoded by members of the Wnt gene family, in many aspects of vertebrate embryogenesis. Recent papers have revealed restricted patterns of Wnt gene expression that delineate important subdivisions within the early forebrain and spinal cord, demonstrated that Wnt gene products can regulate mesoderm formation and gastrulation, and investigated how Wnt protein signaling may affect cell adhesion.