Isolation and characterization of a low-molecular-weight substance activating head and bud formation in hydra

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Abstract
From crude extracts of hydra, a substance activating head formation was isolated and enriched at least 100000-fold. The molecular weight was determined to be approximately 900. Sensitivity against proteases suggests that it is a peptide. The substance acts at a concentration equivalent to the extract of 1 hydra per ml or at a concentration of less than 10 * 10M. In its highly purified form the substance activates head and bud formation.