Activin induces the expression of the Xenopus homologue of sonic hedgehog during mesoderm formation in Xenopus explants.
The Xenopus homologue of sonic hedgehog (Xhh) was detected in Xenopus embryos at stages 13 and 31 by RT-PCR, but it was not expressed in explants isolated from the animal hemisphere of Xenopus embryos at stage 8-9. Treatment of the animal cap with activin (1-100 ng/ml) induced the expression of Xhh. However, it was not induced by 100 ng/ml basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Whole mount in situ hybridization confirmed the expression of Xhh in the animal cap treated with activin. The expression of Xhh induced by activin was not inhibited in the presence of cycloheximide, suggesting that Xhh is an early response gene induced by activin.
Department of Biology, Yokohama City University, Japan.
C
C
Yokotal
T
T
Mukasa
M
M
Higashi
A
A
Odaka
K
K
Muroya
H
H
Uchiyama
Y
Y
Eto
M
M
Asashima
T
T
Momoi
D028341:Activins; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D017931:DNA Primers; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000502:physiology*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D017781:Genes, Immediate-Early; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007265:Inhibins / Q000494:pharmacology; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000235:genetics*
D017931:DNA Primers; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D028341:Activins; D007265:Inhibins; D003513:Cycloheximide