An atlas of Wnt activity during embryogenesis in <i>Xenopus tropicalis</i>

<div><p>Wnt proteins form a family of highly conserved secreted molecules that are critical mediators of cell-cell signaling during embryogenesis. Partial data on Wnt activity in different tissues and at different stages have been reported in frog embryos. Our objective here is to provide a coherent and detailed description of Wnt activity throughout embryo development. Using a transgenic <i>Xenopus tropicalis</i> line carrying a Wnt-responsive reporter sequence, we depict the spatial and temporal dynamics of canonical Wnt activity during embryogenesis. We provide a comprehensive series of <i>in situ</i> hybridization in whole-mount embryos and in cross-sections, from gastrula to tadpole stages, with special focus on neural tube, retina and neural crest cell development. This collection of patterns will thus constitute a valuable resource for developmental biologists to picture the dynamics of Wnt activity during development.</p>