Graded positional information: interpretation for both fate and guidance.
Recent evidence indicates that gradients of the same extracellular molecules can act as both morphogens, specifying cell differentiation, and guidance cues, directing axon movement. We discuss how cells may use common mechanisms to convert graded information into discrete responses; and how extracellular signals provide coordinate systems that can be linked to highly diverse cellular outputs.
Osterfield
Miriam
M
Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Kirschner
Marc W
MW
Flanagan
John G
JG
D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000235:genetics; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics*; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000235:genetics*; D003463:Cues; D020439:Growth Cones / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D006801:Humans; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators