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XB-ART-20690
Nature October 6, 1994; 371 (6497): 487-92.

Activin signalling and response to a morphogen gradient.

Gurdon JB , Harger P , Mitchell A , Lemaire P .


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.

PubMed ID: 7935761
Article link: Nature
Grant support: [+]


References :
Slack, Developmental biology. How to make the gradient. 1994, Pubmed, Xenbase