Region-Specific Neural Induction of an engrailed Protein by Anterior Notochord in Xenopus

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 250; no. 4982; pp. 800 - 802
• Main Authors: Hemmati-Brivanlou, Ali, Stewart, Ronald M., Harland, Richard M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for the Advancement of Science 09-11-1990; American Association for the Advancement of Science; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies; Antigens; Biological and medical sciences; Brain; Cells; Developmental neurology; Early stages. Segmentation. Gastrulation. Neurulation; Ectoderm; Eggs; Embryology: invertebrates and vertebrates. Teratology; Embryonic structures; Embryos; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Expression Regulation; Genes, Homeobox; Mesoderm; Nervous system; Neurons; Notochord; Notochord - physiology; Proteins; Transcription Factors - blood; Transcription Factors - genetics; Xenopus; Xenopus - embryology; Xenopus - genetics; Embryonic development; Vertebrata; Ectoderm; Embryo; Antibody; Induction; Gene product; Xenopus laevis; Amphibia; Salientia; Gene expression
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.1978411

Anterior-specific neural induction can be assayed by means of an antibody that recognizes the Xenopus homeobox-containing protein En-2. The En-2 antigen is an excellent early marker, since it is present as a discrete band in the anterior neural plate of neurula embryos. Regional induction was assayed by combining dorsal mesoderm with competent ectoderm. Anterior notochord from the early neurula induced En-2 frequently, while posterior notochord induced En-2 less frequently. Presumptive somitic mesoderm and presumptive head mesoderm, though they induced neural tissue, were not strong inducers of En-2. Thus, anterior notochord may be the primary mesodermal tissue responsible for the patterning of the anterior neural plate.