The Decapentaplegic morphogen gradient: a precise definition.
Two key processes are in the basis of morphogenesis: the spatial allocation of cell types in fields of naïve cells and the regulation of growth. Both are controlled by morphogens, which activate target genes in the growing tissue in a concentration-dependent manner. Thus the morphogen model is an intrinsically quantitative concept. However, quantitative studies were performed only in recent years on two morphogens: Bicoid and Decapentaplegic. This review covers quantitative aspects of the formation and precision of the Decapentaplegic morphogen gradient. The morphogen gradient concept is transitioning from a soft definition to a precise idea of what the gradient could really do.
Kicheva
Anna
A
Department of Biochemistry, University of Geneva, Sciences II, Quai E. Ansermet 30, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland.
González-Gaitán
Marcos
M
D000818:Animals; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D009024:Morphogenesis
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D007301:Insect Hormones; C064196:dpp protein, Drosophila