Induction of mesoderm in Xenopus laevis embryos by translation initiation factor 4E.
The microinjection of messenger RNA encoding the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF-4E) into early embryos of Xenopus laevis leads to the induction of mesoderm in ectodermal explants. This induction occurs without a stimulation of overall protein synthesis and is blocked by the co-expression of a dominant negative mutant of the proto-oncogene ras or a truncated activin type II receptor. Although other translation factors have been studied in vertebrate and invertebrate embryos, none have been shown to play a direct role in development. The results here suggest a mechanism for relaying and amplifying signals for mesoderm induction.
Klein
P S
PS
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138.
Melton
D A
DA
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015977:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-1 / Q000502:physiology; D039561:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010448:Peptide Initiation Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000196:embryology*
D015977:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-1; D039561:Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-4E; D010448:Peptide Initiation Factors; D012333:RNA, Messenger