Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Distribution of fibronectin in the ectoderm of gastrulating chick embryos

  • Letter
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

A GLYCOPROTEIN known as large external transformation-sensitive (LETS) protein, cell surface protein (CSP) or fibronectin1–3 can be identified on the surface of various cell types1. This protein has a molecular weight of 210,000–250,000 and is closely related to the cold-insoluble globulin found in serum and to the factor needed for cell spreading in vitro4,5. In culture many cells secrete fibronectin into the growth medium and on to the substratum6–8; fibroblasts and other cells of mesodermal origin produce particularly large amounts. However, in the early mammalian embryo fibronectin is present in basement membranes before the mesoderm has formed, when the embryo consists only of ectoderm and endoderm9. Adult epithelia also produce fibronectin in vitro10, and it forms a component of epithelial basement membranes in vivo11–13. We have applied an immunofluorescent technique to whole mounts of early chick embryos to examine the distribution and possible morphogenetic function of fibronectin. We discuss our results here, and suggest that fibronectin is involved in morphogenetic movement during early development.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hynes, R. O. Biochim. biophys. Acta 458, 73 (1976).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Ruoslahti, E., Vaheri, A., Kuusela, P. & Linder, E. Biochim. biophys. Acta 322, 352 (1973 ).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Yamada, K. M. & Weston, J. A. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 71, 3492 (1973).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Ruoslahti, E. & Vaheri, A. J. exp. Med. 141, 497 (1975).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Grinnell, F. & Hays, D. G. Expl Cell Res. 115, 221 (1978).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Rosen, J. J. & Culp, Ll. A. Expl Cell Res. 107, 139 (1977).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Chen, L. B., Murray, A., Segal, R. A., Bushnell, A. & Walsh, M. L. Cell 14, 377 (1978).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Vaheri, A. et al. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 312, 343 (1978).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Wartiovaara, J., Leivo, I., Virtarnen, I. & Vaheri, A. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 312, 132 (1978).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Chen, L. B., Maitland, N., Gallimore, P. H. & McDougall, J. K. Expl Cell Res. 106, 39 (1977).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Spiro, R. G. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 312, 106 (1978).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Linder, E., Stenman, S., Lehto, V.-P. & Vaheri, A. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 312, 152 (1978).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Kefalides, N. A. Dermatologia 150, 4 (1975).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Hamburger, H. & Hamilton, H. L. J. Morph. 88, 49 (1951).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. New, D. A. T. J. Embryol. exp. Morph. 3, 326 (1955).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Mautner, V. & Hynes, R. O. J. Cell Biol. 75, 743 (1977).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Hynes, R. O. & Destree, A. T. Cell 15, 875 (1978).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Ali, I. U. & Hynes, R. O. Cell 14, 439 (1978).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Yamada, K. M., Olden, K. & Pastan, I. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 312, 256 (1978).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Pearlstein, E. Nature 262, 497 (1976).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Grinnell, F. & Minter, D. Proc. natn. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 75, 4408 (1978).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. New, D. A. T. J. Embryol. exp. Morph. 7, 146 (1959).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Wakely, J. & England, M. A. Proc. R. Soc. B (in the press).

  24. Wakely, J. & England, M. A. J. Anat. 128, 435 (1979).

    Google Scholar 

  25. Rosenquist, G. C. Contr. Embroyl. Carnegien Instn 38, 71 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  26. Trelstad, R. L., Hay, E. D. & Revel, J.-P. Devl Biol. 16, 78 (1967).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. England, M. A. & Wakely, J. Anat. Embroyl. 150, 291 (1977).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Clawson, R. C. & Domm, L. V. Am. J. Anat. 125, 87 (1969).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Fujimoto, T., Ukeshima, A. & Kiyofugi, R. Anat. Rec. 185, 139 (1976).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Hamilton, H. L. Lillie's Development of the Chick (Holt, New York, 1952).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, UK

    D. R. CRITCHLEY

  2. Department of Anatomy, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, UK

    MARJORIE A. ENGLAND & JENNIFER WAKELY

  3. Department of Biology and Centre for Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139

    R. O. HYNES

Authors
  1. D. R. CRITCHLEY
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. MARJORIE A. ENGLAND
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. JENNIFER WAKELY
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. R. O. HYNES
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

CRITCHLEY, D., ENGLAND, M., WAKELY, J. et al. Distribution of fibronectin in the ectoderm of gastrulating chick embryos. Nature 280, 498–500 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/280498a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/280498a0

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Search

Navigation