Cerberus is a head-inducing secreted factor expressed in the anterior endoderm of Spemann's organizer

Nature. 1996 Aug 15;382(6592):595-601. doi: 10.1038/382595a0.

Abstract

An abundant cDNA enriched in Spemann's organizer, cerberus, was isolated by differential screening. It encodes a secreted protein that is expressed in the anterior endomesoderm. Microinjection of cerberus mRNA into Xenopus embryos induces ectopic heads, and duplicated hearts and livers. The results suggest a role for a molecule expressed in the anterior endoderm in the induction of head structures in the vertebrate embryo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Blastomeres / transplantation
  • Cell Polarity
  • DNA Primers
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Digestive System / embryology
  • Embryonic Induction* / physiology
  • Embryonic Induction* / radiation effects
  • Endoderm / physiology
  • Gastrula / physiology*
  • Head / embryology*
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Mesoderm / physiology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Proteins / genetics*
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • Proteins / physiology
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Tail / embryology
  • Ultraviolet Rays
  • Xenopus
  • Xenopus Proteins

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • DNA, Complementary
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Xenopus Proteins
  • cer1 protein, Xenopus

Associated data

  • GENBANK/U64831