Inhibition of gastrulation in Xenopus embryos by an antibody against a cathepsin L-like protease.
An antibody against cathepsin L-like protease (AACLP) was injected into one cell of 2-celled Xenopus embryos. The blastopores of AACLP-injected embryos either did not invaginate or failed to complete invagination. As a result of this failure to complete gastrulation, the body axes could not form normally and tail bud stage embryos were bent dorsally. Embryos injected with a control antibody (CA) developed normally through the tadpole stage. Mesodermal induction was not inhibited in embryos exhibiting this AACLP-induced gastrulation defect, but the mesodermal structure of these embryos was organized incorrectly due to the defective gastrulation during the early stages.
Miyata
S
S
Department of Chemistry, College of Humanities and Sciences, Nihon University, Tokyo, Japan.
Kubo
T
T
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000008:administration & dosage; D056668:Cathepsin L; D002403:Cathepsins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000276:immunology; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D010450:Endopeptidases; D005260:Female; D005775:Gastrula / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*
D000906:Antibodies; D002403:Cathepsins; D010450:Endopeptidases; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D056668:Cathepsin L