Affinity chromatography of embryonic inducing factors on heparin-Sepharose

Mesoderm-inducing factors were extracted from chicken embryos and partially purified by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. The DEAE-cellulose eluate was applied to heparin-Sepharose. Most of the proteins are not bound to heparin. The adsorbed proteins were eluted with a linear NaCl gradient. In totipotent gastrula ectoderm of amphibians the eluted proteins induce the differentiation of muscle and notochord as well as of large masses of renal tubules and blood cells. A possible relationship to fibroblast growth factors and angiogenesis factor is discussed.