MAP kinase is activated during mesoderm induction in Xenopus laevis

Dev Biol. 1994 Jun;163(2):521-4. doi: 10.1006/dbio.1994.1168.

Abstract

MAP kinase (MAPK) is activated in animal cap explants from Xenopus embryos in response to mesoderm induction by FGF. This activation is rapid, appearing within 1 min of treatment with FGF, and prolonged, lasting for at least 2 hr. By immunoblot analysis, this activation of MAPK is coupled with an electrophoretic shift to the slowly migrating, phosphorylated form of MAPK. Activin-stimulated mesoderm induction also results in the activation of MAPK, but only upon prolonged exposure. However, activin can potentiate the activation of MAPK by FGF as early as 1 min after administration. These findings suggest that MAPK is involved in the early signaling events of FGF-mediated mesoderm induction, and this involvement is modulated by other mesoderm inducers such as activin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Embryonic Induction
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Fertilization
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / pharmacology
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Ovum / enzymology
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / immunology
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism*
  • Xenopus laevis / embryology*

Substances

  • Peptides
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1