A Novel Mouse Monoclonal Antibody C42 against C-Terminal Peptide of Alpha-1-Antitrypsin.

The C-terminal-fragments of alpha1-antitrypsin (AAT) have been identified and their diverse biological roles have been reported in vitro and in vivo. These findings prompted us to develop a monoclonal antibody that specifically recognizes C-36 peptide (corresponding to residues 359-394) resulting from the protease-associated cleavage of AAT. The C-36-targeting mouse monoclonal Immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody (containing κ light chains, clone C42) was generated and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-tested by Davids Biotechnologie GmbH, Germany.

Follistatin inhibits the mesoderm-inducing activity of activin A and the vegetalizing factor from chicken embryo.

The induction of mesoderm is an important process in early amphibian development. In recent studies, activin has become an effective candidate for a natural mesoderm-inducing factor. In the present study, we show that follistatin, an activin-binding protein purified from porcine ovary, inhibits the mesoderm-inducing activity of recombinant human activin A (rh activin A), which is identical to the erythroid differentiation factor (EDF).

A mesoderm-inducing factor from a Xenopus laevis cell line : Chemical properties and relation to the vegetalizing factor from chicken embryos.

We have compared the chemical properties and biological activities of the mesoderm-inducing factor that is secreted by the Xenopus XTC cell line with the vegetalizing factor from chicken embryos. The inducing activity of the factors was tested in different concentrations on totipotent ectoderm either by implantation into early gastrulae of Triturm alpestris or by application of solutions to isolated ectoderm of early gastrulae of Xenopus laevis. Both factors have similar properties.

Protein kinases in amphibian ectoderm induced for neural differentiation.

Ectoderm explants from early gastrula stages of Xenopus laevis were induced with a neutralizing factor. The factor was isolated from Xenopus gastrulae and partially purified by chromatography on DEAE cellulose. The ectoderm was cultured for different periods of time and then homogenized.

Neural differentiation of amphibian gastrula ectoderm exposed to phorbol ester.

Ectoderm from early gastrula stages of amphibians was isolated and treated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. The ectoderm formed neural tissue and in a few cases also mesenchyme and melanophores. The control explants formed atypical epidermis.