The Ca2+-induced methyltransferase xPRMT1b controls neural fate in amphibian embryo.

We have previously shown that an increase in intracellular Ca2+ is both necessary and sufficient to commit ectoderm to a neural fate in Xenopus embryos. However, the relationship between this Ca2+ increase and the expression of early neural genes has yet to be defined. Using a subtractive cDNA library between untreated and caffeine-treated animal caps, i.

Differential Protein Distribution Related to Dorsoventral Polarity in Pleurodeles waltl Cleaving Egg: (Pleurodeles waltl/dorsoventral polarity/regional protein pattern).

The molecular basis for the initial specification of dorsoventral polarity in the Amphibian egg prior to the mid-blastula transition still remains an open question. Regional differences in the protein pattern of Pleurodeles egg were investigated during early cleavage (8- and 512-cell stages, prior to the mid-blastula transition). Animal-dorsal, animal-ventral, vegetal-dorsal and vegetal-ventral quarters were separated and proteins were analyzed by 2D-electrophoresis.

Lithium induces dorsal-type migration of mesodermal cells in the entire marginal zone of urodele amphibian embryos.

The effect of lithium (Li) on gastrulation movements was investigated during the development of the urodele amphibianPleurodeles waltl. Attention was focused on mesodermal cell migration. Under conditions of Li treatment providing a maximal enhancement of dorsoanterior structures, it was found that the dorsoventral polarity of gastrulation was abolished.