RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A mouse macrophage factor induces head structures and organizes a body axis in Xenopus
JF Science
JO Science
FD American Association for the Advancement of Science
SP 561
OP 564
DO 10.1126/science.2382134
VO 249
IS 4968
A1 Sokol, S
A1 Wong, GG
A1 Melton, DA
YR 1990
UL http://science.sciencemag.org/content/249/4968/561.abstract
AB Soluble peptide factors have been implicated as the agents responsible for embryonic inductions in vertebrates. Here, a protein (PIF) secreted by a mouse macrophage cell line is shown to change the developmental fate of Xenopus embryonic cells. Exposure to PIF causes presumptive ectodermal explants to form anterior neural and mesodermal tissues, including brain and eye, instead of ciliated epidermis. In addition, the induced tissues are organized into a rudimentary embryonic axis. These results suggest that PIF or a closely related molecule is involved in inducing anterior structures and organizing the frog body plan.