Visualization of endogenous BMP signaling during Xenopus development |
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| Authors: | T. Kurata&dagger ,· J. Nakabayashi&dagger ,· T. S. Yamamoto&dagger ,· M. Mochii&dagger ,· N. Ueno&dagger ¢ ,· |
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| Affiliation: | Division of Morphogenesis, Department of Developmental Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, 38 Nishigonaka Myodaijicho, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan ;e-mail:; Tel.: + 81 564 55 7570, Fax: + 81 564 55 7571Department of Molecular Biomechanics, School of Life Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies, 38 Nishigonaka Myodaijicho, Okazaki 444-8585, Japan;Present address:Laboratory of Regeneration Biology, Department of Life Science, Faculty of Science, Himeji Institute of Technology, Harima Science Garden City, Hyogo 678-1297, Japan |
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| Abstract: | Abstract The TGF-β superfamily of growth factors is known to transmit signals to the nucleus mainly through the Smads, intracellular signaling components that are highly conserved from nematodes to humans. The signaling activity of the Smads is regulated by their ligand-stimulated phosphorylation through Ser/Thr kinase receptors. Here, to examine the in vivo role of BMP, we investigated the spatio-temporal activation of BMP-regulated signals during Xenopus development, using a polyclonal antibody that specifically recognizes the phosphorylated form of BMP-regulated Smads. BMP signaling was observed uniformly in embryos as early as stage 7, but was restricted to the ventral side of the embryo at the late blastula stage, supporting the proposed role of BMP4 as a ventralizing factor in Xenopus embryos. In addition, localized staining was detected in several developing organs, consistent with the predicted function of BMP family members in organogenesis. |
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| Keywords: | BMP Smad morphogen gradient Xenopus laevis |
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