Different ways to make a head.
In Drosophila, the establishment of the larval head and thorax depends on the transcription factors BICOID and HUNCHBACK, and on signalling mediated by the receptor tyrosine kinase TORSO. Genetic experiments described in two recent papers(1, 2) demonstrate that these factors can, to a large extent, replace each other, revealing a surprising degree of plasticity in establishing larval anterior structures. The commutability of developmental factors might in part reflect the evolutionary history of the system. BioEssays 23:8-11, 2001.
Schmidt-Ott
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Max-Planck-Institut für biophysikalische Chemie, Abteilung für molekulare Entwicklungsbiologie, Am Fassberg 11, D-37077 Göttingen, Germany. uschmid@gwdg.de
D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004330:Drosophila / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D006257:Head / Q000196:embryology; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; C056478:bcd protein, Drosophila; C061245:hb protein, Drosophila; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; C080148:tor protein, Drosophila