Glycolytic activity is required for the onset of neural plate folding during neural tube closure in mouse embryos

Physiological hypoxia is critical for placental mammalian development. However, the underlying mechanisms by which regulates embryonic development remain unclear. We discovered that expression of glycolytic genes partially depends on in neuroepithelial cells E8.25 mouse embryos. Consistent with this finding, inhibiting glycolysis during early phase neural tube closure (E8.0–8.5) resulted a defect. In contrast, electron transport chain did not affect formation. Furthermore, affected cell proliferation, but differentiation and survival. Inhibiting repressed phosphorylation myosin light 2, consequent plate folding. Our findings revealed anaerobic proliferation apical constriction closure.