title: Platelet-derived growth factor A chain is maternally encoded in Xenopus embryos.
abstract: Transcription of zygotic genes does not occur in early Xenopus embryos until the mid-blastula transition, 6 to 7 hours after fertilization. Before this time, development is directed by maternal proteins and messenger RNAs stored within the egg. Two different forms of the A chain of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) are shown here to be encoded by maternal messenger RNAs. The two forms closely resemble human PDGF; however, the long form contains a hydrophobic region near the carboxyl terminus. The presence of PDGF messenger RNA in the embryo supports the idea that endogenous growth factors act at the earliest stages of embryogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mercola
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Melton
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Stiles
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005775:Gastrula / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D009865:Oocytes / Q000032:analysis; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D004247:DNA