Platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) signaling is essential for normal embryonic development in many organisms, including frog, mouse, zebrafish, and sea urchin. The mode of action of PDGFR signaling during early development is poorly understood, however, mostly because inhibition of signaling through either the PDGFR␣ or PDGFR is embryonic lethal. In Xenopus embryos, disruption of PDGFR␣ signaling causes migrating anterior mesoderm cells to lose direction and undergo apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway. To understand the mechanism of PDGFR␣ function in this process, we have analyzed all known effectorbinding sites in vivo. By using a chemical inducer of dimerization to activate chimera PDGFR␣s, we have identified a role for phospholipase C␥ (PLC␥) in protecting cells from death. PDGFR␣-mediated cell survival requires PLC␥ and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling, and that PDGFR␣ with binding sites for these two signaling factors is sufficient for this activity. Other effectors of PDGFR␣ signaling, Shf, SHP-2, and Crk, are not required for this process. Thus, our findings show that PDGFR␣ signaling through PLC␥ and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase has a protective role in preventing apoptosis in early development. Furthermore, we demonstrate that small molecule inducers of dimerization provide a powerful system to manipulate receptor function in developing embryos.apoptosis ͉ gastrulation ͉ phospholipase C␥ ͉ Xenopus