Analysis of morphogenetic mutants of hydra : IV.Reg-16, a mutant deficient in head regeneration

The mutantreg-16 is deficient in head regeneration and abnormal in size regulation. The gastric region becomes twice as long as that of normal animals before the first bud is produced. Both mutant characteristics are due to changes in head-specific morphogen concentrations.Reg-16 contains twice as much head inhibitor and only half as much head activator in its head as normal animals. This leads to a higher level of free head inhibitor in the whole animal resulting on one hand in a greater distance of buds from the head, and on the other hand in a total blockage of release of head activator and head inhibitor which would be necessary to initiate head regeneration.