Premium
A carboxyl‐terminal truncated version of the activin receptor mediates activin signals in early Xenopus embryos
Author(s) -
Nishimatsu S.,
Iwao M.,
Nagai T.,
Oda S.,
Suzuki A.,
Asashima M.,
Murakami K.,
Ueno N.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(92)80928-a
Subject(s) - xenopus , activin receptor , terminal (telecommunication) , activin type 2 receptors , acvr2b , microbiology and biotechnology , embryo , follistatin , receptor , chemistry , tgf beta signaling pathway , biology , signal transduction , transforming growth factor , biochemistry , computer science , gene , computer network
The function of a carboxyl‐terminal truncated version of the Xenopus activin receptor, encoded by a previously isolated gene XSTK2, was investigated in early embryos. The transcript corresponding to the truncated receptor gene was detected throughout embryonic development although the temporal expression pattern was different from that of an intact receptor. Injection of X5TR2 mRNA into early embryos resulted in the formation of a duplicated body axis. Mesoderm induction as evaluated by the activation of the α‐actin gene in presumptive ectoderm (animal cap) treated with exogenous activin was significantly enhanced by the injection of XSTK2 mRNA. These results suggest that the truncated receptor is capable of transmitting the activin signal to the same extent as the native receptor.