Bistability coordinates activation of the EGFR and DPP pathways in Drosophila vein differentiation.
Cell differentiation in developing tissues is controlled by a small set of signaling pathways, which must coordinate the timing and levels of activation to ensure robust and precise outcomes. Highly coordinated activation of signaling pathways can result from cross-regulatory interactions in multi-pathway networks. Here we explore the dynamics and function of pathway coordination between the EGFR and DPP pathways during Drosophila wing-vein differentiation. We show that simultaneous activation of both the EGFR and DPP pathways must be maintained for vein cell differentiation and that above-threshold ectopic activation of either pathway is sufficient to drive vein cell differentiation outside the proveins. The joint activation of the EGFR and DPP signaling systems is ensured by a positive feedback loop, in which the two pathways stimulate each other at the level of ligand production.
Yan
Shian-Jang
SJ
Department of Biomedical Genetics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA.
Zartman
Jeremiah J
JJ
Zhang
Minjie
M
Scott
Anthony
A
Shvartsman
Stanislav Y
SY
Li
Willis X
WX
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D004330:Drosophila / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D025461:Feedback, Physiological; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D018010:Receptors, Invertebrate Peptide / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development*
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D018010:Receptors, Invertebrate Peptide; C064196:dpp protein, Drosophila; C066532:Egfr protein, Drosophila; D066246:ErbB Receptors