Formation of the BMP activity gradient in the Drosophila embryo.
The dorsoventral axis of the Drosophila embryo is patterned by a gradient of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) ligands. In a process requiring at least three additional extracellular proteins, a broad domain of weak signaling forms and then abruptly sharpens into a narrow dorsal midline peak. Using experimental and computational approaches, we investigate how the interactions of a multiprotein network create the unusual shape and dynamics of formation of this gradient. Starting from observations suggesting that receptor-mediated BMP degradation is an important driving force in gradient dynamics, we develop a general model that is capable of capturing both subtle aspects of gradient behavior and a level of robustness that agrees with in vivo results.
Mizutani
Claudia Mieko
CM
Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA.
Nie
Qing
Q
Wan
Frederic Y M
FY
Zhang
Yong-Tao
YT
Vilmos
Peter
P
Sousa-Neves
Rui
R
Bier
Ethan
E
Marsh
J Lawrence
JL
Lander
Arthur D
AD
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000502:physiology*; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004330:Drosophila; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D001330:Electronic Data Processing; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000379:methods; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D005838:Genotype; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000379:methods; D016571:Neural Networks, Computer; D013997:Time Factors
D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C064196:dpp protein, Drosophila; C091428:sog protein, Drosophila