title: Type IV collagens regulate BMP signalling in Drosophila.
abstract: Dorsal-ventral patterning in vertebrate and invertebrate embryos is mediated by a conserved system of secreted proteins that establishes a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) gradient. Although the Drosophila embryonic Decapentaplegic (Dpp) gradient has served as a model to understand how morphogen gradients are established, no role for the extracellular matrix has been previously described. Here we show that type IV collagen extracellular matrix proteins bind Dpp and regulate its signalling in both the Drosophila embryo and ovary. We provide evidence that the interaction between Dpp and type IV collagen augments Dpp signalling in the embryo by promoting gradient formation, yet it restricts the signalling range in the ovary through sequestration of the Dpp ligand. Together, these results identify a critical function of type IV collagens in modulating Dpp in the extracellular space during Drosophila development. On the basis of our findings that human type IV collagen binds BMP4, we predict that this role of type IV collagens will be conserved.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.
authors.forename: Xiaomeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Robin E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Laura J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Bayston
authors.forename: Hilary L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Ashe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002452:Cell Count; D024141:Collagen Type IV / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D024141:Collagen Type IV; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C090409:SCW protein, Drosophila; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; C064196:dpp protein, Drosophila