RELOCATION OF MITOCHONDRIA TO THE PROSPECTIVE DORSAL MARGINAL ZONE DURING XENOPUS EMBRYOGENESIS

Dorsal-ventral axis formation in Xenopus laevis begins with a cytoplas mic rotation during the first cell cycle and culminates in a series of cell interactions and movements during gastrulation and neurulation t hat lead to the formation of dorsal-anterior structures. Evidence repo rted here indicates that mitochondria are differentially redistributed along the prospective dorsal-ventral axis as a consequence of the cor tical-cytoplasmic rotation during the first cell cycle. This finding r einvigorates a possibility that has been considered for many years: as ymmetries in cytoplasmic components and metabolic activities contribut e to the development of morphological asymmetries. (C) 1995 Academic P ress, Inc.