An autoregulatory cascade of EGF receptor signaling patterns the Drosophila egg.
Intercellular signaling through the EGF receptor (EGFR) patterns the Drosophila egg. The TGF alpha-like ligand Gurken signals from the oocyte to the receptor in the overlying somatic follicle cells. We show that in the dorsal follicle cells this initial paracrine signaling event triggers an autocrine amplification by two other EGFR ligands, Spitz and Vein. Spitz only becomes an effective ligand in the presence of the multitransmembrane domain protein Rhomboid. Consequent high-level EGFR activation leads to localized expression of the diffusible inhibitor Argos, which alters the profile of signaling. This sequential activation, amplification, and local inhibition of the EGFR forms an autoregulatory cascade that leads to the splitting of an initial single peak of signaling into two, thereby patterning the egg.
Wasserman
J D
JD
MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, England.
Freeman
M
M
D000818:Animals; D019898:Autocrine Communication; D019521:Body Patterning; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004528:Egg Shell / Q000254:growth & development; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D020043:Genes, Essential; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D009154:Mutation; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020880:Neuregulins; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development*; D009866:Oogenesis; D006080:Ovarian Follicle / Q000378:metabolism; D019899:Paracrine Communication; D010641:Phenotype; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D020880:Neuregulins; C081481:Rho protein, Drosophila; C472498:Stet protein, Drosophila; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; C083730:grk protein, Drosophila; C075638:aos protein, Drosophila; C076026:spi protein, Drosophila; C102104:vn protein, Drosophila; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D018631:ras Proteins