High level over-expression of XrelA1, a homologue of the p65 sub-unit of NF-kappa B and of Drosophila dorsal, arrests Xenopus development at the gastrula stage, producing a reduction in the levels of expression of various genes of developmental interest without general reduction in transcription or cessation of cell division. There is little Goosecoid expression, even though a dorsal lip forms. At lower levels XrelA1 mRNA primarily produces disruption of the mid-dorsal axis. A dominant interference gene product, Delta 222, produces mainly posterior, but also anterior abnormalities. On the basis of these results we postulate that the role of XrelA1 in the vertebrate embryo is unlikely to be in dorsoventral development, but more likely in the formation of the termini.