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Related Experiment Videos

Activin has direct long-range signalling activity and can form a concentration gradient by diffusion

N McDowell1, A M Zorn, D J Crease

  • 1Wellcome CRC Institute of Cancer and Developmental Biology, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QR, UK.

Current Biology : CB
|September 1, 1997
PubMed
Summary

Activin directly signals distant cells in Xenopus embryos, forming a concentration gradient via diffusion. This mechanism, not relay or wave propagation, explains gene activation and mesoderm induction.

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Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Signaling
  • Embryology

Background:

  • Activin exhibits potent mesoderm-inducing properties and long-range signaling in early Xenopus embryos.
  • The precise mechanism of this long-range signaling and morphogen gradient formation in vertebrates remains unclear.
  • It is unknown if activin acts directly on distant cells or if secondary messengers are involved.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the fundamental properties of long-range signaling in Xenopus embryos.
  • To determine the mechanism by which activin establishes a morphogen gradient.
  • To ascertain if activin directly acts on distant cells.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized Xenopus blastulae animal caps treated with activin or transforming growth factor beta.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Analyzed gene activation (Xbrachyury) in response to activin.
  • Tracked labeled activin distribution to assess gradient formation.

    • Main Results:

    • Distant cells require functional activin receptors, indicating direct activin action.
    • Signal transmission occurred across non-responsive tissue, refuting a relay mechanism.
    • Labeled activin formed a concentration gradient from source to Xbrachyury-expressing distant cells.
    • No inherent tissue polarity affected signaling direction or rate.

    Conclusions:

    • Activin long-range signaling relies on rapid diffusion and gradient establishment, not relay or wave propagation.
    • Activin itself is the signaling molecule responsible for gene transcription in distant cells.
    • This clarifies the mechanism of morphogen gradient formation and direct cellular response.