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Blastomere Explants to Test for Cell Fate Commitment During Embryonic Development
Published on: January 26, 2013
Development of the ectoderm in Xenopus: tissue specification and the role of cell association and division
Abstract:
When do ectodermal cells become specified to form epidermis, that is, become committed to form epidermis when isolated? Animal pole explants of Xenopus cultured in saline from the 8-cell stage onwards express a specific epidermal antigen, whereas vegetal explants do not. The isolated outer layer of ectoderm formed by stage 7 is almost completely specified, the inner layer is only partially so. When are cell associations and cell divisions necessary for epidermal differentiation? Embryos that were either disaggregated or incubated in cytochalasin B after the midblastula stage do not require cell interactions, Ca2+, or cell divisions for epidermal differentiation to occur. Inhibition of mRNA transcription with actinomycin D shows that the epidermal antigen is certainly transcribed by the late gastrula stage (stage 12).
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