Abstract
Chordin (Chd) is an abundant protein secreted by Spemann organizer tissue during gastrulation. Chd antagonizes signaling by mature bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) by blocking binding to their receptors. Recombinant Xenopus Chd binds to BMP-4 with high affinity (KD, 3 x 10(-10) M), binding specifically to BMPs but not to activin or TGF-beta1. Chd protein is able to dorsalize mesoderm and to neuralize ectoderm in Xenopus gastrula explants at 1 nM. We propose that the noncell-autonomous effects of Spemann's organizer on dorsoventral patterning are executed in part by diffusible signals that directly bind to and neutralize ventral BMPs during gastrulation.
Publication types
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Activins
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Binding, Competitive
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Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors
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Bone Morphogenetic Proteins
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Carrier Proteins
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Cells, Cultured
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Embryonic Induction*
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Extracellular Space / physiology
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Glycoproteins / physiology*
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Inhibins / metabolism
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Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins*
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Mesoderm / cytology
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Mice
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Morphogenesis
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Nervous System / embryology
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Osteogenesis
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Protein Binding
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Proteins / physiology*
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Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism
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Receptors, Growth Factor*
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Recombinant Proteins
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Signal Transduction
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Xenopus laevis / embryology*
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Xenopus laevis / growth & development
Substances
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Bone Morphogenetic Proteins
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Carrier Proteins
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Glycoproteins
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Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
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Proteins
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Receptors, Cell Surface
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Receptors, Growth Factor
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Recombinant Proteins
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Activins
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noggin protein
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Inhibins
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chordin
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Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors