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Activin signalling and response to a morphogen gradient

Nature volume 371, pages 487–492 (1994)Cite this article

Abstract

Using combinations of amphibian embryo tissues, it is shown that the selection of genes expressed by a cell is determined by its distance from a source of activin, a peptide growth factor contained in vegetal cells and able to induce other cells to form mesoderm. This long-range signal spreads over at least 10 cell diameters in a few hours. It does so by passive diffusion, because it can by-pass cells that do not themselves respond to the signal nor synthesize protein. These results provide direct support for the operation of a morphogen concentration gradient in vertebrate development.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wellcome CRC Institute, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 IQR, UK

    J. B. Gurdon, P. Harger, A. Mitchell & P. Lemaire

  2. Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, UK

    J. B. Gurdon, P. Harger, A. Mitchell & P. Lemaire

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  1. J. B. Gurdon
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  2. P. Harger
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  3. A. Mitchell
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  4. P. Lemaire
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Gurdon, J., Harger, P., Mitchell, A. et al. Activin signalling and response to a morphogen gradient. Nature 371, 487–492 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1038/371487a0

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