Recherches sur le rôle des groupes sulfhydriles dans la morphogénèse

The effects of the -SH-containing, strongly reducing substance, β-mercaptoethanol, have been compared with those of its oxidized counterpart, dithiodiglycol. It has been found that both inhibit morphogenetic movements, especially the closure of the neural plate. However, the neural plates formed in the presence of the two substances have very different shapes; furthermore, dithiodiglycol has more general toxicity, but less effect on mitotic activity, than mercaptoethanol. The latter does not reduce the inducing activity of the organizer, but it strongly inhibits the competence of the neuroblast. The significance of these results is discussed. © 1959. ; SCOPUS: ar.j ; info:eu-repo/semantics/published