Control of the embryonic body plan by activin during amphibian development

Zoological Science
T Ariizumi, M Asashima

Abstract

Embryonic induction plays an important role in establishing the fundamental body plan during early amphibian development. The factors mediating this embryonic induction have, however, only recently been discovered. In the mid-1980's, certain peptide growth factors belonging to the FGF and TGF-beta families were found to have a mesoderm-inducing effect on isolated Xenopus blastula ectoderm. The study of embryonic induction subsequently expanded rapidly and knowledge at the molecular level has gradually accumulated. One of these peptide growth factors, activin, a member of the TGF-beta superfamily, is present maternally in the Xenopus early embryo and induces various mesodermal and endodermal tissues in isolated presumptive ectoderm. After exposure of presumptive ectoderm to activin, many genes are expressed in the same manner as in normal embryogenesis. Ectoderm treated with activin can induce a complete secondary embryo, the same as the organizer does in transplantation experiments. These findings suggest that activin is one of the first induction signals responsible for establishing the embryonic body plan in early amphibian development. In this article we shall review to what extent we can control the embryonic body plan in v...Continue Reading

References

Jun 1, 1992·Molecular Reproduction and Development·I B DawidM R Rebagliati
Dec 1, 1992·Developmental Biology·S Y Sokol, D A Melton
Jul 12, 1991·Science·B BlumbergK W Cho
Aug 1, 1991·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·M AsashimaK Kinoshita
Jun 1, 1991·Mechanisms of Development·M AsashimaP Hoppe
Feb 16, 1990·Science·T NakamuraH Sugino
Jun 21, 1990·Nature·A J van den Eijnden-Van RaaijD Huylebroeck
Nov 1, 1990·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·T J MusciM W Kirschner
Dec 1, 1989·Cell Differentiation and Development : the Official Journal of the International Society of Developmental Biologists·H Grunz, L Tacke
Aug 14, 1986·Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications·N LingR Guillemin
Dec 1, 1987·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·N UenoR Guillemin
Jul 1, 1972·Hoppe-Seyler's Zeitschrift für physiologische Chemie·J BornU Kocher-Becker
Sep 4, 1981·Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta·H P GeitheH Tiedemann
Jul 15, 1994·Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications·H UchiyamaH Sugino
Nov 1, 1993·Developmental Biology·K KinoshitaM Asashima
Sep 1, 1993·Developmental Biology·A FukuiH Sugino
Dec 1, 1969·Wilhelm Roux' Archiv Für Entwicklungsmechanik Der Organismen·P D Nieuwkoop
Mar 1, 1979·Wilhelm Roux's Archives of Developmental Biology·Horst Grunz
Dec 1, 1975·Wilhelm Roux's Archives of Developmental Biology·M Asashima

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jun 30, 2000·Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part B, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology·M AsashimaG M Malacinski
Sep 4, 1998·Development, Growth & Differentiation·H TiedemannH Tiedemann
Jun 26, 2001·Development, Growth & Differentiation·R A Flickinger
Nov 9, 2002·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Miho FurueMakoto Asashima
May 28, 2011·Developmental Dynamics : an Official Publication of the American Association of Anatomists·Emmanuel TadjuidjeJanet Heasman
Jul 17, 2007·Cell·Thomas GregorDavid W Tank

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.