Characterization and relationship of Dpp receptors encoded by the saxophone and thick veins genes in Drosophila.
The dpp/BMP family of TGF beta-related factors controls numerous events in pattern formation and morphogenesis. How these polypeptide signals are received and transduced by target cells is largely unknown. We combine molecular and genetic approaches to establish that the Drosophila saxophone (sax) gene encodes a dpp receptor. We compare the structural properties and expression patterns of sax with a second dpp receptor encoded by the thick veins (tkv) gene. While the sax gene is expressed ubiquitously, tkv is expressed in a highly localized and dynamic pattern during development. Some, but not all, of the tkv expression pattern parallels that of dpp. Ubiquitous expression of a tkv transgene rescues both tkv and sax loss-of-function mutations. Thus, there is at least partial functional overlap of the sax and tkv receptors in vivo. We consider these observations in terms of possible ligand-receptor interactions during Drosophila development.
Brummel
T J
TJ
Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine 92717.
Twombly
V
V
Marqués
G
G
Wrana
J L
JL
Newfeld
S J
SJ
Attisano
L
L
Massagué
J
J
O'Connor
M B
MB
Gelbart
W M
WM
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D017344:Genes, Insect / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation / Q000502:physiology; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D007301:Insect Hormones; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; C064196:dpp protein, Drosophila; C086338:sax protein, Drosophila; C090169:tkv protein, Drosophila; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases