Interpreting clone-mediated perturbations of morphogen profiles.
Generating clones of mutated cells within a wild-type tissue is a powerful experimental paradigm for elucidating gene function. Recently, this approach was employed for identifying genes that shape morphogen profiles in the Drosophila wing-imaginal disc. Interpreting such experiments poses a theoretical challenge. We present a general framework that links specific features of the morphogen profile in the clone vicinity to three basic morphogen properties: diffusion, degradation, and binding to immobile elements. Our results provide rigorous criteria to examine existing data and can facilitate the design and interpretation of future clone experiments.
Eldar
Avigdor
A
Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, PO Box 26, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
Barkai
Naama
N
D000818:Animals; D002999:Clone Cells; D004330:Drosophila / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051157:Frizzled Receptors; D017344:Genes, Insect; D008954:Models, Biological; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009154:Mutation; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development; D051155:Wnt1 Protein
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D051157:Frizzled Receptors; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D051155:Wnt1 Protein; C064196:dpp protein, Drosophila; C101703:fz2 protein, Drosophila; C074622:wg protein, Drosophila