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Embryonic expression and functional analysis of a Xenopus activin receptor
Author(s) -
HemmatiBrivanlou Ali,
Wright David A.,
Melton Douglas A.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/aja.1001940102
Subject(s) - biology , xenopus , mesoderm , microbiology and biotechnology , activin receptor , neuroectoderm , embryogenesis , gastrulation , ectopic expression , hindbrain , neurogenesis , messenger rna , receptor , embryo , embryonic stem cell , genetics , signal transduction , gene
We report the isolation and characterization of a Xenopus activin receptor (XAR1). The amino acid sequence of this protein shows extensive homology with a murine activin receptor. The mRNA is expressed maternally and is ubiquitously distributed during the early stages of embryogenesis. Consistent with a possible role in mesoderm induction and patterning, interference with the normal expression of the receptor by overexpression in the early embryo results in the formation of ectopic dorsal axial structures. During neurulation the XAR1 mRNA is expressed predominantly in the presumptive brain and spinal cord, suggesting an additional function for XAR1 in neurogenesis. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.