title: Formation of the BMP activity gradient in the Drosophila embryo.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Section of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, USA.
authors.forename: Claudia Mieko
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Mizutani
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.forename: Frederic Y M
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Yong-Tao
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vilmos
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sousa-Neves
authors.forename: Ethan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bier
authors.forename: J Lawrence
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Marsh
authors.forename: Arthur D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Lander
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C064196:dpp protein, Drosophila; C091428:sog protein, Drosophila