title: Identification of bone morphogenetic protein-2 in early Xenopus laevis embryos.
abstract: Polyclonal antibodies capable of reacting with amphibian bone morphogenetic protein (BMP-2 and -4) were raised in rabbits by immunization with a synthetic 21 amino acid peptide which corresponds to a sequence residing in the mature protein of Xenopus BMP-2 (xBMP-2). The antibodies recognized an embryonic BMP as well as mammalian and bacteria expressed recombinant xBMPs. The antibodies detected, under reducing conditions, a 30 kDa protein in the extract of oocytes and embryos during early development. Interestingly, acidification of the extract from each developmental stage yielded a protein band of smaller molecular weight of 18 kDa, which is similar in size to reduced form of mature BMPs purified from mammalian species. Two-dimensional electrophoresis employed to examine the molecular weight of unreduced forms using the antibody, revealed that both molecular forms are monomeric in the embryos. The result suggests that at least BMP-2 mRNA previously detected in early embryos, is translated into peptide but the dimerization may be incomplete or strictly limited in these embryos.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Applied Biochemistry, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ueno
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shoda
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takebayashi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishimatsu
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wakimasu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujino
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murakami
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D015153:Blotting, Western; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D016466:CHO Cells; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D006224:Cricetinae; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000032:analysis*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009865:Oocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D014162:Transfection; D014982:Xenopus laevis
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D006133:Growth Substances; D010455:Peptides; D011506:Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins