In amphibian embryos, fibronectin (FN) assembles as a fibrillar network on the roof of the blastocoel cavity, preceding mesodermal cell migration. Local inversion of the ectoderm to produce a site where no FN is available prevents mesodermal cell migration. Microinjection of monovalent antibodies to FN arrests gastrulation. A complete inhibition of mesodermal cell migration is obtained after microinjection of a synthetic peptide containing the cell binding site sequence of FN. Prevention of interactions between receptors and FN appears to be the primary cause for blockage of gastrulation.

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