Fish are like flies are like frogs: conservation of dorsal-ventral patterning mechanisms.
Genetic analysis of Drosophila has shown that a morphogenetic gradient of the Transforming Growth Factor-beta family member dpp patterns the embryonic dorsal-ventral axis. Molecular and embryological evidence from Xenopus has strongly suggested a similar role for Bmp-4, the dpp homolog, in patterning the dorsal-ventral axis of chordates. A recent report has now identified mutations in two genes, dino and swirl, that disrupt dorsal-ventral patterning in the zebrafish Danio rerio. Characterization of these mutations parallels findings from Drosophila, thus establishing a genetic framework for the analysis of dorsal-ventral patterning in a vertebrate.
Holley
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Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Chicago, IL 60637, USA. sb21@midway.uchicago.edu
Ferguson
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D000818:Animals; D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004627:Embryonic Induction / Q000502:physiology; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005796:Genes; D017344:Genes, Insect; D005809:Genes, Regulator; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins
D055415:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D029867:Xenopus Proteins; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C525812:bmp4 protein, Xenopus; C525813:bmp4 protein, zebrafish; C064196:dpp protein, Drosophila