Temporal dynamics of patterning by morphogen gradients.
Morphogens act as graded positional cues to control cell fate specification in many developing tissues. This concept, in which a signaling gradient regulates differential gene expression in a concentration-dependent manner, has received considerable experimental support. Nevertheless, several recent studies have challenged the straightforward model of morphogen activity. In particular, the observation that pattern formation is a dynamic process has raised questions about the influence of time on morphogen activity. Here we propose that the spatiotemporal dynamics of the cellular response to a morphogen gradient depend on a combination of temporal alterations to the morphogen gradient itself, the dynamics of its signal transduction and downstream interactions between target genes.
Kutejova
Eva
E
Developmental Neurobiology, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK.
Briscoe
James
J
Kicheva
Anna
A
D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000502:physiology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D008954:Models, Biological; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors