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Graded changes in dose of a Xenopus activin A homologue elicit stepwise transitions in embryonic cell fate

Nature volume 347, pages 391–394 (1990)Cite this article

Abstract

THE protein XTC-MIF, a Xenopus homologue of activin A and a potent mesoderm-inducing factor1, can induce responding animal pole explants to form several different cell types in a dose-dependent manner, higher doses eliciting more dorso-anterior tissues2. This graded response, characteristic of classically postulated morphogens3, may underlie pattern formation, but the response of intact animal caps to XTC-MIF provides only a crude indication of trends. Here we report the effects of XTC-MIF on dispersed blastomeres rather than intact animal caps. Under these conditions, responding cells distinguish sharply between doses of pure XTC-MIF differing by less than 1.5-fold. Two different response thresholds have been found, defining three cell states. This suggests that XTC-MIF has an instructive effect. Notochord and muscle are both induced in the same narrow dose-range. Mixing treated with untreated cells does not seem to shift the dose thresholds, showing that at least some cells can stably record the received dose of inducing factor.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Embryogenesis, National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London, NW7 1AA, UK

    Jeremy B. A. Green & J. C. Smith

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  1. Jeremy B. A. Green
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  2. J. C. Smith
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Green, J., Smith, J. Graded changes in dose of a Xenopus activin A homologue elicit stepwise transitions in embryonic cell fate. Nature 347, 391–394 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1038/347391a0

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