Cadherin-6B stimulates an epithelial mesenchymal transition and the delamination of cells from the neural ectoderm via LIMK/cofilin mediated non-canonical BMP receptor signaling

► Cadherin-6B promotes the epithelial mesenchymal transition of neural crest cells. ► Cadherin-6B-induces de-epithelialization via noncanonical BMP receptor signaling. ► De-epithelialization is mediated by BMP receptor activation of LIM kinase. ► LIM kinase phosphorylates the actin regulatory protein cofilin. ► In cooperation with SOX9 transcriptional activity, the LIMK-cofilin pathway leads to delamination of neural crest from the neural tube.