ISSN:
0192-253X
Keywords:
Follistatin
;
activin
;
inhibin
;
chick
;
rhombomeres
;
somites
;
resegmentation
;
neural induction
;
Life and Medical Sciences
;
Genetics
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Follistatin, a secreted glycoprotein, has been shown to act as a potent neural inducer during early amphibian development. The function of this protein during embryogenesis in higher vertebrates is unclear, and to further our understanding of its role we have cloned, sequenced, and performed an in-depth expressional analysis of the chick homologue of follistatin. In addition we also describe the expression pattern of activin βA and activin β B, proteins that have previously been shown to be able to interact with follistatin. In this study we show that the expression of follistatin and the activins do not always overlap. Follistatin was first detected in Hensen's node and subsequently in the region described by Spratt [1952] as the neuralising area. In older embryos it was also expressed in a highly dynamic manner in the hind-brain as well as in the somites. We also present evidence that follistatin may have a later role in the resegmentation of the somites. We were unable to detect the expression of activin βA during early embryogenesis, whereas activin βB was first expressed in the extending primitive streak and subsequently in the neural folds. The results from this study are consistent with a role for follistatin in neural induction but suggest it has additional functions unrelated to its inhibitory actions on activins. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Additional Material:
7 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/dvg.1020170108
