The Xenopus Tgfbi is required for embryogenesis through regulation of canonical Wnt signalling

► Tgfbi is a multifunctional protein involved in human corneal dystrophy and cancer. ► Xtgfbi is expressed in dorsal marginal zone, notochord and floor plate at early stages as well as in muscle, neurons, neural crests and derivatives at tailbud stage and after. ► Xtgfbi is essential for muscle, neuron and neural crest induction, patterning and differentiation. ► Xtgfbi expression is induced by canonical Wnt signaling. ► Xtgfbi is required for the full activation of canonical Wnt signaling by promoting phosphorylation of GSK3β possibly via integrin linked kianse in both Xenopus and human cell lines.