title: Regulation of BMP/Dpp signaling during embryonic development.
abstract: Bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4) and its Drosophila ortholog, decapentaplegic (Dpp), are multifunctional developmental regulators. Both gain-of-function and loss-of-function studies demonstrate that the biological activity and signaling range of these morphogens must be strictly regulated to ensure normal embryonic patterning. BMP-4 and Dpp are produced from inactive precursors that are proteolytically cleaved, following which the active ligand is secreted into the extracellular space. Binding of BMP-4 or Dpp to its cognate receptor leads to phosphorylation of intracellular signal-transducing Smad proteins that then form hetero-oligomers, translocate to the nucleus and modulate transcription of target genes. Recent studies have shown that the BMP signal transduction cascade can be modulated at every step of this process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Medicine, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201-3098, USA.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Christian
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D052004:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D011509:Proteoglycans; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D015534:Trans-Activators; C064196:dpp protein, Drosophila; D052004:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors