title: Plasticity and reprogramming of differentiated cells in amphibian regeneration: partial purification of a serum factor that triggers cell cycle re-entry in differentiated muscle cells.
abstract: The reversal of cellular differentiation to form proliferating progenitor cells is a critical aspect of regenerative ability in the urodele amphibians. This process has been studied using skeletal muscle during limb or tail regeneration, or dorsal iris epithelium during lens regeneration. An unknown activity in serum triggers cell cycle re-entry from the differentiated state. Here we describe the biochemical properties and fractionation of this serum factor. The factor is a glycoprotein that associates with large molecular weight complexes. The purification and molecular identification of the serum factor represents an important avenue in understanding regenerative ability and dedifferentiation capacity on a molecular basis.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Werner L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Straube
authors.forename: Jeremy P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Brockes
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Drechsel
authors.forename: Elly M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Tanaka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000502:physiology; D007498:Iris / Q000502:physiology; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D012038:Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D012455:Salamandridae; D013623:Tail / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins