Expression of a dominant negative mutant of the FGF receptor disrupts mesoderm formation in Xenopus embryos

E. Amaya, T.J. Musci and M.W. Kirschner

Cell 66: 257-270 (1991) Full Article (3900K)

Abstract

Peptide growth factors may play a role in patterning of the early embryo, particularly in the

induction of mesoderm. We have explored the role of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) in early

Xenopus development by expressing a dominant negative mutant form of the FGF receptor. Using

a functional assay in frog oocytes, we found that a truncated form of the receptor effectively

abolished wild-type receptor function. Explants from embryos expressing this dominant negative

mutant failed to induce mesoderm in response to FGF. In whole embryos the mutant receptor

caused specific defects in gastrulation and in posterior development, and overexpression of a

wild-type receptor could rescue these developmental defects. These results demonstrate that the

FGF signaling pathway plays an important role in early embryogenesis, particularly in the

formation of the posterior and lateral mesoderm.

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