Regulation of the fibroblast growth factor receptor in early Xenopus embryos

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

Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 87: 8365-9 (1990) Full Article (1200K)

Abstract

Recent evidence suggests that fibroblast growth factor (FGF) is a primary mesoderm inducer in

Xenopus development. We have isolated a full-length cDNA clone for the Xenopus FGF receptor.

Like other FGF receptors, the Xenopus homolog is a membrane-spanning protein with a split

intracellular tyrosine kinase domain. The Xenopus FGF receptor mRNA is present as a maternal

message whose levels are constant through early development. There is no specific regional

localization of the transcript by analysis of FGF receptor mRNA levels in microdissected embryonic

tissue. In isolated animal-pole blastomeres, FGF receptor mRNA declines over 16 hr in culture and

this loss can be prevented by incubation with FGF or activin. Despite the presence of the FGF

receptor mRNA in the oocyte, oocytes in culture do not respond to added FGF. However, injection

of exogenous Xenopus FGF receptor transcripts into oocytes does generate a functional response to

FGF. Our data suggest that posttranscriptional response to FGF. Our data suggest that

posttranscriptional mechanisms regulate the FGF receptor in the oocyte and early embryo and

further suggest that mesoderm-inducing factors influence receptor mRNA levels during the time of

early tissue formation.

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