Two themes on the assembly of the Drosophila eye.
Cells are sequentially recruited during formation of the Drosophila compound eye. A few simple rules are reiteratively utilized to control successive steps of eye assembly. Two themes emerge: the interplay between cell signaling and competence determines diversity of cell types and selective cell adhesion determines spatial patterns of cells. Cell signaling through competence creates signaling relays, which sequentially trigger differentiation of all cell types. Selective cell adhesion, on the other hand, provides forces to drive cells into energy-favored spatial configurations. Organ formation is nevertheless a complex process. The complexity lies in the spatial, temporal, and quantitative precision of gene expression. Many challenging questions remain.
Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, USA.
Sujin
S
Bao
D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D017956:Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction
D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins