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Isolation of a Factor Mediating Melanogenic Induction in Pigment Cells of Xenopus Laevis
Author(s) -
HOPERSKAYA OLGA A.,
ZAITZEV IGOR,
GOLUBEVA OLGA
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
development, growth and differentiation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.864
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1440-169X
pISSN - 0012-1592
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-169x.1982.00259.x
Subject(s) - xenopus , pigment , microbiology and biotechnology , melanocyte , mutant , embryonic stem cell , biology , chemistry , biochemistry , genetics , gene , melanoma , organic chemistry
An activity has been identified in +/+ Xenopus laevis embryonic extract which stimulates intensive and stable melanoprotein synthesis in retinal pigmented epithelium and dermal melanophores of albino periodical mutants, a p /a p . Experiments involved four steps: 1) preparation of extract from +/+ embryos at stages NF 18–21 when melanogenesis occurs most extensively; 2) gel‐filtration of the extract; 3) microinjection of the fractionated materials into a p /a p ; and 4) identification of the nature of active substances. The activity is heat‐labile and is destroyed by treatment with pronase E. We call this material melanogenic factor (MGF) and suggest that it is responsible for initiating melanogenic activity in melanin‐synthesizing cells.