Genes for bone morphogenetic proteins are differentially transcribed in early amphibian embryos.
We have previously demonstrated that activin, a member of the TGF-beta family, has a potent mesoderm-inducing activity in Xenopus embryos. In the course of screening for activin-related genes from Xenopus, we have cloned cDNAs for Xenopus homologue of BMP-2, -4 and -7. Northern blot analysis revealed that these BMP genes are maternally encoded and differentially regulated after fertilization. Alkaline phosphatase-inducing assay using the recombinant BMP proteins has shown that at least BMP-2 and -4 have similar activity to mammalian counterparts.
Nishimatsu
S
S
Institute of Applied Biochemistry, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Suzuki
A
A
Shoda
A
A
Murakami
K
K
Ueno
N
N
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000494:pharmacology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D002460:Cell Line; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D015183:Restriction Mapping; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D012984:Software; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection; D014981:Xenopus / Q000196:embryology
D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D006133:Growth Substances; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004247:DNA; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase