β-integrin is a maternal protein that is inserted into all newly formed plasma membranes during early Xenopus embryogenesis Available to Purchase

A monoclonal antibody (mAb 8C8) that recognizes the Xenopus β₁-integrin chain was used to study the appearance, synthesis and distribution of this integrin subunit during the early development of Xenopus. Both the precursor and the mature form of β₁-integrin are provided maternally. They do not increase significantly in amount until early gastrula when the level of both forms begins to rise gradually.

Synthesis of β₁-integrin from maternal mRNA is observed throughout the pregastrula phase, though it seems to add only little to the total β₁-integrin of the embryo. Until late blastula only small amounts of precursor are processed into the mature form.

Starting with the formation of the first cleavage membrane, mature β₁-integrin is inserted into the newly formed plasma membranes of all cells. The membrane domains forming the outer surface of the embryo remain devoid of the antigen. The data suggest an as yet unknown function of β₁-integrin during the cleavage phase.